Hamas is reportedly ready to accept Israel's right to exist and prepared to nullify its charter which calls for the destruction of the Jewish state, according to Aziz Dwaik, Hamas's most senior representative in the West Bank and the elected speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council. According to the ‘Jerusalem Post’ Dwaik made these remarks during a meeting in Hebron with British millionaire David Martin Abrahams, who maintains close ties with senior Israeli and British government officials. This weekend, Abrahams will brief British Foreign Minister David Milliband on the outcome of his meeting with Dwaik and other Hamas officials in the West Bank.

Abrahams told the ‘Jerusalem Post’ that he would urge Milliband to "consider the implications of Hamas's positive overtures." Dwaik stressed that other Hamas leaders, including Damascus-based leader Khaled Mashaal and Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh had voiced support for the idea of establishing an independent Palestinian state within the pre-1967 boundaries.

"The [Hamas] charter was drafted more than 20 years ago," Dwaik noted, adding that his movement would even be prepared to "nullify" the document. "No one wants to throw anyone into the sea," he reportedly said.