New Hamas offer to Israel

The spiritual leader of the radical Palestinian group, Hamas, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, has repeated his offer of a ceasefire with Israel if it withdraws from territory it opccuied in 1967.

Speaking on Israeli television, Sheikh Yassin said he regretted that Israel had rejected his offer in the past, saying it wanted both peace and territory.

He said the establishment of a Palestinian state in Israel and the territories would be a long-term goal.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service