LAHORE, March 28: The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) says results of Israeli elections are nothing to do with its programme. “Israeli election results are meaningless for us because both the right and left parties of the Zionist state are one against Palestinians,” says Hamas leader and former vice-chancellor of Gaza University Shaikh Muhammad Siam.

Delivering a reception at Mansoora auditorium here on Tuesday, he said peace deal could be struck with Israel but only if it vacated occupied Arab territories under the principle of live and let others live.

He, however, hastened to add that it did not mean recognizing the state of Israel.

About Hamas efforts to form a coalition government in Palestine, he said despite enjoying majority in the legislative assembly, they had attempted to form a coalition government to win support of all political and social circles of Palestinians.

The move was inspired by the MMA’s successful experiment here in Pakistan, the Shaikh added.

But, he regretted, the US and Israel put immense pressure on former ruling party Al-Fatah and other parliamentary groups to prevent them from joining the coalition government for isolating Hamas in regional and international politics.

The US-Israel campaign, however, backfired as it helped open doors of Arab and other Muslim countries to Hamas, he said.

He said Hamas leaders’ visit to Moscow did not amount to supporting Russian atrocities on Chechen brothers. “Hamas in its bid to seek world cooperation has not and will not deviate from its stance based on justice and fairness.”

Shaikh Siam said while seeking cooperation of Muslim community in India they did express their apprehensions on Indo-Israel and US-India nuclear cooperation.

He was all praise for valour and spirit of Palestinian women who complimented Jihadi and electoral success of Hamas.

There are 17 women in Palestinian parliament while one has been on the Hamas cabinet.