Hamas will succumb to international pressure

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak thinks Hamas militants soon to head the Palestinian government will succumb to international pressure and renounce their violent campaign against Israel, Israel’s Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz quoted him as saying.

Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings, recently won a landslide victory in Palestinian elections and is set to take power within weeks.

Israel, supported by the West, has demanded that the militant group abandon its violent ideology, recognise Israel’s right to exist and honour previous agreements between Israel and the Palestinians.

“The president says that he believes Hamas will change its ways in the future and adopt the Israeli conditions,” said Mofaz, who travelled to Cairo today for talks with Mubarak and other Egyptian officials.

His remarks were broadcast over Israel Radio.

Mofaz said Mubarak pledged to “exert all of his efforts to make Hamas accept all the Israeli conditions.”

Last week, Hamas leaders meeting in Cairo said Egypt didn’t put any pressure on them to yield to Israel’s demands.