A-Zahar: Recognizing Israel contradicts Koran

Former PA foreign minister Mahmoud A-Zahar of Hamas said Friday that recognizing Israel's right to exist contradicts the Koran, Israel Radio reported. In an interview with a Hamas-affiliated Web site, A-Zahar said that Hamas had not given up on the principle that all of Palestine is Muslim land. According to the report, A-Zahar also claimed that Fatah was building a new army and training operatives in various Arab countries in a renewed effort to eliminate Hamas.