| The leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah militant groups met Friday in Beirut and signed a statement declaring their armed resistance against Israel legitimate. Following a meeting with Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal said his group would not disarm. The joint Hamas-Hezbollah statement said both sides underlined the legitimacy of their resistance activities against Israel. Hamas stressed that the continuation of the current cease-fire in the Palestinian territories depended on an end to Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the release of all prisoners. The statement said, "Hamas will not be committed to remain calm if Israel fails to meet its demands." |