GAZA, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Palestinians under Hamas reportedly will get help from Arab and Muslims states to offset Israeli and Western restrictions, says their new prime minister.
Ismail Haniyeh the prime minister-designate of the Palestinian Authority, told the BBC Hamas will not disarm and recognize Israel.
He was responding to Israel's decision to impose a series of punitive measures against the PA because Hamas, which won last month's Palestinian election, has carried out suicide bombings against Israel in recent years. Since last year, however, Hamas has been observing an informal truce, the report said.
The European Union, the PA's largest donor, may stop its funding if Hamas does not recognize Israel and renounce violence.
Haniyeh told the BBC instead of labeling Hamas as a terrorist group, Israel should "have responded differently to the democracy expressed by the Palestinian people."
