What does the Jerusalem Post hide?

The Hamas Palestinian movement has recognized Israel's right to exist and is ready to change its charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel, the "Jerusalem Post" newspaper has informed. Still, what stands behind the publication?

The newspaper is quoting Aziz Dwaik, Hamas's top representative in the West Bank of Jordan. "No one wants to throw anyone into the sea," he said, remembering the slogan of Arabic radicals "to throw Jews into the Mediterranean Sea". If this statement is real and Hamas is going to change its position it will affect the political situation in the region and promote Middle East peace.

Throughout many years Hamas has totally rejected Israel's right to exist and it was more than just a position. Militants of the movement were bombarding the Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip and the Israeli army responded by considerable destruction, causing casualties among the civilians in Gaza. As for resuming a dialogue between Israel and Palestine, Hamas did not reject it, but set obviously unacceptable conditions for the Israeli party.

The Islamic movement has stuck to these positions up to the recent time. Thus, Jerusalem Post's article is doubtful and needs to be verified, believes Vladimir Morozov, a Middle East expert:

"It may be a provocation to discredit some Hamas official. Such statements should be treated with caution. If it is true, then it will provide for a Palestinian-Israeli peaceful settlement. If it is just a news item, which will appear to be a provocation, it will end up in nothing. It is obvious".

Israeli special services also may be involved in the publication. Then it should be considered as a feeler of the Palestinian government position. For Israel, compromise with Hamas is a means of pressure on the Fatah movement and the Palestinian National Administration headed by Mahmoud Abbas. They make the resumption of negotiations in the Middle East dependant on Israel's settlement activity on the West Bank of Jordan and in East Jerusalem. In this case the article can be considered as Israel's attempt to affect the Fatah and Abbas, having shown that they can also  be Israel's partner in a dialogue.