Mishaal: Obama using new language towards Middle East

Khaled Mishaal, the head of the Hamas political bureau, has opined on Sunday that US president Barack Obama was using a new language in the American relations with the Middle East, pointing out that an opening of official US and European channels for dialog with Hamas is only a matter of time.

In an interview with the Italian La Repubblica newspaper, Mishaal said that this different American tone could be a prelude to a real change in the US and European policies towards the region.

The Hamas political leader stressed that the major powers in the world need Hamas to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

“Our weight in resolving the Palestinian question stems from our roots in society and in the people who have voted for us and who will do so again,” the Hamas leader underlined.

Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya had called on Obama in a statement issued Sunday to translate his catchphrase of “change” into a tangible reality especially towards the Palestinian people and their just cause.