Zuma defends hosting Hamas leader
Parliament - Hamas had evolved from a group which just wanted Israel to disappear, to accepting that they can live side by side with one other, President Jacob Zuma said in Parliament on Thursday.
Zuma was explaining why South African officials and the ANC hosted Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in the country last month.
"There was a time when all Arabs were saying what the honourable member has just read, that Israel must disappear," Zuma said after African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe asked him why the government and the ANC appeared to be cosying up to the group.
"That time has passed. Now they accept the need for Israel to exist side by side," said Zuma.
He said it was important to keep on talking to Hamas to "influence" people and to reconcile the different Palestinian groups - Fatah and Hamas.