by Saud Abu Ramadan

    GAZA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Gaza Strip-ruling Islamic Hamas movement said Tuesday that a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian statehood needs to annul the Oslo peace accords signed with Israel and to reconsider the reality of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

    Hamas said in a statement that declaring a Palestinian statehood must be the fruit of the Palestinian people's success of their resistance to get rid of the military occupation, to liberate their territories and the return of Palestinian refugees.

    "The declaration of a Palestinian state must not be just a slogan that Oslo team is raising to fulfill a political vacuum that was an outcome of the political settlement failure," said the statement, adding "Our people are in need for getting rid of the occupation and not just for ideas and proposals."

    Earlier, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) officials announced on Sunday and Monday that they have decided to appeal to the United Nations' Security Council to grab a declaration of an independent Palestinian state established on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967.

    They said their decision "will be done in accordance with the international resolutions after the efforts to resume the peace talks had failed and after Israel rejected to halt settlement activities."

    "Repeating the same declaration that was made in 1988 (the declaration of independence) is just jumping in the air and playing with the Palestinian people's emotions," Hamas statement said. "Our territories are still occupied and the settlements are still swallowing our lands."

    Meanwhile, a PLO official criticized the U.S. administration's objection to the Palestinian attitude to unilaterally declare a Palestinian statehood.

    Ahmed Majdalani, a PLO executive committee member, told Xinhua that "the U.S stance concerning the declaration of statehood contradicts with its commitment to the two-state solution," adding "declaring a Palestinian state is for sure a strategic interest for the United States."

    Majdalani said the PNA attitude to apply to the Security Council to grab statehood "is part of the frame that was legalized by the international conventions and laws, adding "it is not the U.S. right to obstruct this demand."

    U.S. officials had rejected the PNA attitude, saying their country backs the establishment of a Palestinian state "that would be an outcome of direct peace negotiations with Israel," and "the best way to get a state is through negotiations."

    Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli media reports quoted U.S. congressmen visiting Israel as saying that the United States "would veto any declaration of statehood at the United Nations' Security Council."

    Majdalani said the PNA won't directly apply to the Security Council.

    "The PNA has started a series of contacts and preparations aimed at guaranteeing no U.S. veto on the voting," Majdalani said, "In case the U.S. vetoes the decision that recognizes a Palestinian statehood, this would mean that the U.S. relinquishes its position towards the peace process and negotiations."

    Among the options the Palestinians are studying is "to unilaterally declare an independent Palestinian state, ask the Security Council to recognize it and draw the borders of the state," an action that was challenged by Israel, which threatened to carry out escalated actions against the PNA.

    Meanwhile, Hassan Abu Hashish, chief of Hamas government media department, said that Hamas government would bless any Security Council resolution that recognizes an independent Palestinian state established on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, with full sovereignty and without settlement.

    Hamas government officials' statements contradict with earlier statements made by Gaza-based Hamas leaders, who opposed the PNA attitude to appeal to the Security Council and demand a declaration of an independent Palestinian state.