Hamas struggles for words in dilemma over change

JERUSALEM, Sep 15 (Reuters) Hamas has become practised at linguistic somersaults since it took over the Palestinian government in March, but has never needed to nuance its words as carefully as over a promised unity government.

The struggle for phrasing highlights the dilemma for Hamas, caught between wanting to satisfy international demands for change in order to ease sanctions while telling its power base that it stands firm on its position.

The question is whether the Islamist militant group, whose charter advocates the destruction of the Jewish state, really has changed in agreeing to a unity government with President Mahmoud Abbas, who seeks a state alongside Israel.

''I think they did change but they don't want to acknowledge that,'' said Palestinian political analyst Ali Jarbawi. ''The fact that they want a national unity government means that they are incorporating themselves into the system.'' The message that Hamas lets slip to Abbas and Western countries is that it has become more flexible -- cautiously accepting interim agreements between the Palestinians and Israel and thereby implying some recognition.

But the message for Hamas followers is that it will not bow to Western pressure, particularly the demands to clearly recognise Israel and renounce violence in exchange for an end to an embargo that has crippled the Palestinian Authority.

Key for Hamas is the get-out clause that it put in the deal with Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen.

It says that Hamas only accepts past agreements ''in accordance to the interest of the Palestinian people'' -- so it can argue that it does not accept any part of any agreement that implies recognition of Israel.

Both Hamas and Abbas also talk of opposing Israeli occupation, but while Abbas means land captured by Israel in 1967, Hamas means the whole of what is Israel too.

''Abu Mazen came to us and said, hey people, give me some political clauses regarding the agreements ... so I can market it to the world,'' senior Hamas lawmaker Salah al-Bardaweel told a pro-Hamas radio station.

''Hamas dealt flexibly with that and we came up with these sentences ... Some people say Hamas made concessions, but Hamas has not retreated an inch from its principles and constant positions.'' MORE REUTERS AB BST1852