Thousands gather to back Hamas govt, PM Haniyeh speech, more

(6 Oct 2006)
1. Wide of Hamas supporters wearing green hats and holding green Hamas flags in audience
2. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ismail Haniyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister:
"I honestly tell you - and I will be responsible for that in front of God, our strugglers, and the martyrs - we will never recognise Israel, we will never recognise Israel, we will never recognise Israel".
3. Back shot of crowd
4. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ismail Haniyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister:
"In return for a truce, we agree to establish a Palestinian state within the 1967 territories with its capital being Jerusalem, and the release of prisoners and refugees (Palestinian prisoners in Israel and the right of return for refugees). But we do not agree on the recognition (of Israel) or a concession of our fathers' and ancestors' land."
5. Crowd chanting, man waving flag
6. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ismail Haniyeh, Palestinian Prime Minister:
"Brother President, come to Gaza in order to continue the dialogue from the point we stopped at, we agreed with you on determinants we offered, and the corrections we followed - these corrections which emerged from the national agreement document."
7. Zoom out of Haniyeh waving to supporters
STORYLINE:
Tens of thousands of Palestinians gathered in a Gaza Strip soccer stadium on Friday in a massive show of support for the ruling Hamas group and its beleaguered government.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told the rally that Hamas would "never recognise Israel."
Thousands of Palestinians were bussed into Gaza City from all parts of the coastal area, covering the stadium in a sea of green, the colour of Hamas' hats and flags, Chanting "God be with you Hamas".
Haniyeh, 46, fainted briefly during his speech after he slurred some words, stopped speaking in mid-sentence then fell on aides surrounding him. He was put on a chair as aides attended to him.
Like all observant Muslims, Haniyeh is fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. The speech was delivered on a hot autumn day. Haniyeh resumed his speech after several minutes.
Haniyeh said that Hamas would never recognise Israel and his government was prepared to establish a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, but only exchange for a long term truce.
Haniyeh urged moderate President Mahmoud Abbas to return to Gaza to resume coalition talks: "Brother President, come to Gaza in order to continue the dialogue from the point we stopped at."
The rally comes at a time of increasing tension between the Islamic Hamas group and the more moderate Fatah Party.
The dispute between the two turned violent earlier in the week, with gun battles erupting between Hamas and Fatah gunmen in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, raising fears that the conflict could turn into a full-fledged civil war.
Hamas won a January parliamentary election, bringing them into direct confrontation with the moderate President Mahmoud Abbas, who controls some of the security forces and backs peace talks with Israel.
Adding to Hamas' troubles, the international community has slapped debilitating sanctions on the government, demanding the Islamic group recognise Israel, accept past peace deals and renounce violence.

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