State Department Reiterates Quartet Demands on Hamas; Denounces “Martyr” Praise for Bin Laden

David Streeter — May 4, 2011 – 3:22 pm | Foreign Policy | Israel | Terrorism Comments (0) Add a comment

Yesterday, State Department Spokesman Mark Toner reiterated the Obama Administration’s long-standing call for Hamas to adhere to the conditions laid out by the Diplomatic Quartet in order to be considered a legitimate political group. Toner said:

[O]ur long-stated policy on this is that if Hamas wants to play a political role, or a role in the political process, then it needs to abide by the Quartet principles, and those have been quite clear. It needs to accept those principles, which are renouncing violence and terrorism, recognizing Israel’s right to exist, and abiding by previous diplomatic agreements.

Toner also denounced Hamas’ praise for Osama Bin Laden in the wake of his killing:

[The remarks by Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh are] outrageous. And it goes without saying bin Ladin was a murderer and a terrorist. He ordered the killings of thousands of innocent men, women, and children, and many of whom were Muslim. He did not die a martyr. He died hiding in a mansion or a compound far away from the violence that was carried out in his name. And his defeat is a victory for all human beings seeking to live in peace, security, and dignity. So I just echo my first statement, which is his remarks we find outrageous.

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