WABC/WMAL/KSFO ON DEMAND

ABC 10/19/08 9:05 PM ET [Listen Here]
GUESTS: Aaron Klein, WorldNetDaily, and Dr. Ahmed Yousef, Chief Political Advisor to the Hamas government.

TRANSCRIPT

BATCHELOR: I'm John Batchelor, JohnBatchelorShow.com. A great pleasure welcoming Aaron Klein from Jerusalem, and we welcome from the Gaza Strip, Dr. Ahmed Yousef, the chief political advisor to the Hamas government. Dr. Yousef, a very good evening, good morning to you. My first question is here in New York we've heard word that Dr. Rice, the Secretary of State, speaks very well of Hamas, perhaps in a letter. Is that true? Can you confirm that for me?

YOUSEF: No, I don't think it was a letter. Maybe it's just a statement that has been passed (to) one of the Arab leaders and to thank Hamas for making the cease fire a complete cease fire and control the situation in Gaza and nobody tried to violate the agreement - the terms of the agreement - and from even the Israeli side all the time violating the terms of agreement and didn't fulfill their promises to the Egyptian mediator. Hamas from their side, they were really having their full commitment and nobody had heard there was any missiles or projectiles fired from Gaza for about now 3 and a half months.

KLEIN: Yes, I completely agree with you that Hamas has been doing an excellent job at holding the cease fire in the Gaza Strip whereas other organizations in the past have never been able to withhold fire like that. I'm wondering because we have now the reports that this letter from the United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice whether it was a letter or some sort of verbal communications. Do you believe if there was communications that this will now open the doors in the future for dialogue (or) for some sort of engagement (and) communications between the United State and Hamas? Do you look forward to communication between United State and Hamas?

YOUSEF: I do believe actually with this administration - with (the) Bush administration - we don't have luck and I don't think that this administration is showing any sincerity or doing any sincere effort to lift the sanctions and ending the isolation of Mr. Haniyeh's government. And what they are doing and what we as Palestinians are expecting that we might have better luck with (a) new administration maybe if Mr. Obama wins the election. I do believe that he will change the American foreign policy in the way they (are) handling the Middle East. The Palestinian question is considered the mother of all conflict in the region and I do believe based on the recommendation from different sources to the American administration that they should handle the Palestinian question in (an) even-handed policy - this is much better - to also to decrease the anti-American sentiment in the region. So I do believe with the new administration we can expect a new policy toward the region and also to find a way to handle the Palestinian question and helping the Palestinian to have their own Palestinian state.

KLEIN: I just want to be clear here. It's still Aaron. When you say the new administration, you're basically inferring that you believe that - you're talking about Senator Barack Obama and you think that Obama will win the election?

YOUSEF: Yeah, I do. I'm like the rest of the people, looking forward (inaudible) talking about and after this financially crisis I do believe that Obama's chances are more than Mr. McCain's. That's why we count on this change in American foreign policy to be more fair and impartial regarding the conflict - the way they look to the conflict - and the way they might suggest a new proposal or help solving the problem and this is much - I do believe that this is very good to America to have a new administration with somebody like Mr. Obama and his vision for change because we really need that change in the region. If America would really look to their vital interests in the region, especially the oil and their strategic position of the Middle East, they have to look after the Palestinian question and find a way to solve the problem.

BATCHELOR: We're speaking with Dr. Ahmed Yousef, the chief political advisor to the prime minister of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and Aaron Klein of WorldNetDaily's on the line from Jerusalem. Dr. Yousef, it's exciting to consider a new administration in any guise, however, you know - you follow very closely the American elections - that during the conversations, Senator Obama has said he's eager to meet with world leaders, especially those who are regarded as adversaries without preconditions. We know that you welcomed former president Jimmy Carter to the region and Hamas' leadership including al-Zahar, your foreign minister, spoke with President Carter and others spoke with President Carter at Ramallah. Do you look forward to advising your prime minister to invite the new president if it is to be Senator Obama to the Gaza Strip after his inauguration, and do you believe that that is a good way to start the new relation in the Middle East between the United States and Hamas?

YOUSEF: I do believe we will send him a letter - a congratulations letter - the moment he will win the election and we will try to explain in that letter what America should do to enhance their image in the region and to restore their leadership also in the region. We would like to work together because we do believe that Hamas is the best choice to bridge the gap between East and the West, between the United States and the Islamic world. We think we are going to be an asset (and) not a liability to any relation to the United States. We are looking for the new president to open a new chapter in the relation and I hope that America can also contribute to the security, stability and prosperity of the region if really they put their vision regarding how to solve the Palestinian problem and helping the Palestinians to have their own Palestinian state.

BATCHELOR: Would you advise your prime minister to visit with - if it is to be Senator Obama - in the White House and would you invite Senator Obama to Gaza City?

YOUSEF: Of course, we would like to invite even if McCain wins the election. We would like to invite him to Gaza and there is a possibility that he would send an invitation to the prime minister. Of course, the prime minister would be more than delighted to go and meet with Mr. McCain. We have nothing against the United States, per se, but American policy is not fair when it comes to the Palestinian issue. We would like to explain where we stand regarding our relations with the United States and also if America succeeds to have a good initiative to solve the problem, yes, Hamas will stand behind it.

BATCHELOR: Dr. Yousef, you are very generous. You've known Senator Biden for many years as the head of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate. Do you believe that Senator Biden is a fresh start as well? Do you look forward to conversations with Senator Biden, presuming he's vide president?

YOUSEF: I do believe that Mr. Biden - he's well known, he's familiar with the situation here in Palestine. I think he's (a) very nice person, very prominent figure when it comes to the politics and the politics of the region. Yes, he's well aware of the political situation here in Palestine and I do believe that he might do something really to change the bad image about America and enhance that image because his record speaks volumes. I do believe Mr. Biden is a great man and we count on him also as a good partner with Mr. Obama to put the right policy about how to handle the problem in the region.

BATCHELOR: One final question. Aaron please.

KLEIN: I want to ask Dr. Yousef in 2006 you made very interesting remarks where you talked about how Hamas had some dialogue, some communications, with members of the Democratic Party, with members of the United States. And then of course in 2008 we saw the very well covered visit of Jimmy Carter, the former president, with Hamas. I'm asking you now - I'm wondering in 2008 whether this continues - whether Hamas has any connections, any dialogue, currently with members of the Democratic Party, with members of the Republican Party or with members of the U.S. Government?

YOUSEF: To be honest with you, yes there are also people from the Republican - from Bush administration - who contacted us and who behind the scenes they did some contact and did some discussion with Hamas. It is not just members of the Democratic Party or figures from the Democratic Party. This is the Republicans also who send delegation to talk to Hamas and meet with their leaders in Damascus, in West Bank and also in Gaza.

BATCHELOR: We're speaking with Dr. Ahmed Yousef, the chief political advisor to the prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, of the Hamas organization in the Gaza Strip, Aaron Klein is in Jerusalem. I'm John Batchelor, JohnBatchelorShow.com.