Sheikh Ahmed Yassin: "We don't hate Jews"

We don't hate Jews and fight Jews because they are Jewish.  They are a people of faith and we are a people of faith, and we love all people of faith.  If my brother, from my own mother and father and my own faith takes my homes and expels me from it, I will fight him.  I will fight my cousin if he takes my home and expels me from it.  So when a Jew takes my home and expels me from it, I will fight him.  I don't fight other countries because I want to be at peace with them, I love all people and wish peace for them, even the Jews.  The Jews lived with us all of our lives and we never assaulted them, and they held high positions in government and ministries.  But if they take my home and make me a refugee like 4 million Palestinians in exile?  Who has more right to this land?  The Russian immigrant who left this land 2000 years ago or the one who left 40 years ago?  We don't hate the Jews, we only ask for them to give us our rights.

~ Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Hamas founder, 1988 interview