RELIGION

New Hamas program softens language, but some goals remain

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2014, file photo, Khaled Mashaal leader of the Palestinian Islamic militant movement Hamas, that has governed Gaza since a 2007 takeover, speaks during a speech held in Katara in Doha, Qatar. The Islamic militant Hamas has unveiled a new, seemingly more pragmatic political program, Monday, May 1 2017, that the group hopes will help it end years of international isolation. The five-page program, a result of four years of internal deliberations, was presented at a news conference in Doha, Qatar, by outgoing Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader in exile. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2014, file photo, Khaled Mashaal leader of the Palestinian Islamic militant movement Hamas, that has governed Gaza since a 2007 takeover, speaks during a speech held in Katara in Doha, Qatar. The Islamic militant Hamas has unveiled a new, seemingly more pragmatic political program, Monday, May 1 2017, that the group hopes will help it end years of international isolation. The five-page program, a result of four years of internal deliberations, was presented at a news conference in Doha, Qatar, by outgoing Khaled Mashaal, the Hamas leader in exile. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE -- In this Dec. 8, 2012 file photo, Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal, left, and Hamas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh wave to Palestinian Hamas supporters during a rally to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Hamas militant group, in Gaza city. The new political program of Hamas, published Monday, May 1, 2017, is meant to help the Islamic militant group break out of its international isolation. The manifesto does not formally replace the group's fiery 1987 founding charter, but adopts more conciliatory language, even if some goals remain unchanged _ such as the eventual “liberation” of all of historic Palestine, including what is now Israel. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa, File) (The Associated Press)

Hamas officials say the group's leader will present a new political program that accepts statehood in parts of historic Palestine, but does not drop the quest for "liberating" all the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River, including what is now Israel.

The program is to be made public Monday in Qatar by Khaled Mashaal, the leader-in-exile of Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to reveal details to the media.

The five-page document adopts seemingly more moderate language in hopes of helping Hamas break out of its international isolation. It does not formally replace the group's fiery 1987 founding charter.

Hamas redefines itself as a national liberation group, distancing it from its parent movement, the pan-Arab Muslim Brotherhood, which has been outlawed by Gaza neighbor Egypt.

Mashaal's news conference was to begin at 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) at a five-star hotel. But Hamas said it had to delay the presentation after the Doha hotel withdrew consent to host a news conference by the group.

Hamas said the news conference is now set to start at 8:45 p.m. (1745 GMT) at a different hotel in Doha.