HAMAS, HIZBULLAH AGREE ON WAR AGAINST ISRAEL
Hamas and Hizbullah have agreed to continue the war
against Israel.
Leaders from the two groups met in Beirut and discussed strategy amid
efforts to arrange a Palestinian Authority ceasefire with Israel. The
Islamic insurgency organizations rejected the ceasefire and said they would
maintain the war against the Jewish state.
"They agreed that the option of resistance and steadfastness was the only
choice to confront the current situation," Hizbullah said in a statement
after the meeting.
The statement said the Jan. 30 meeting comprised of Hizbullah
secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas
political bureau chief Khaled Masha'al. Both groups have received
significant support from Iran.
The statement also said the two leaders discussed Western pressure on
Syria to withdraw from Lebanon. Hizbullah, a significant benefactor of the
regime of President Bashar Assad, has supported the Syrian occupation of
Lebanon.
Western intelligence sources said Masha'al has been seeking to expand
Hamas operations outside of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The
sources said Hamas has received funding from Hizbullah and Iran to establish
networks around the Middle East, Europe and the United States.