by Benson Agoha
The latest speach by President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas is raising some eyebrows.
Abbas, just smarting from a recent reconciliation with Hamas announced on Saturday that talks with Israel could continue if the Jewish state `freezes settlement construction, frees prisoners and begins discussion on the borders of a promised Palestinian state,' according the Times of Israel.
But these conditions are a repetition of demands the Palestinian Authority knows Israel won't accept, say a senior Israeli official in Jerusalem.
The official said Abbas simply “recycled the same conditions, after he already knows Israel won’t accept them,” adding that he “administered the coup de grace to the peace process today.”
The PA's recent pact with Hamas is also proving to be a set-back as Israel suspended the peace talks on Thursday saying it would not negotiate with a government backed by Hamas, as it does not recognize Israel - and has always rejected peace talks.
According to ToI, the unnamed official said the Palestinian alliance came “while Israel was making sincere efforts to advance negotiations with the Palestinians.”
Hamas also has broken their silence since the reconciliation announcement with Fatah last week.
Hamas said on Sunday that it would not recognize Israel, although it indicated it would not obstruct negotiations between the PLO and the Jewish.
The latest speach by President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas is raising some eyebrows.
Abbas, just smarting from a recent reconciliation with Hamas announced on Saturday that talks with Israel could continue if the Jewish state `freezes settlement construction, frees prisoners and begins discussion on the borders of a promised Palestinian state,' according the Times of Israel.
* (R-L): Ismail Haniyeh, Head of the Hamas government and Azzam Al-Ahmed, Senior Fatah official attend a news conference as they announce a reconciliation agreement on Wednesday April 23, 2014 in Gaza.
The official said Abbas simply “recycled the same conditions, after he already knows Israel won’t accept them,” adding that he “administered the coup de grace to the peace process today.”
The PA's recent pact with Hamas is also proving to be a set-back as Israel suspended the peace talks on Thursday saying it would not negotiate with a government backed by Hamas, as it does not recognize Israel - and has always rejected peace talks.
According to ToI, the unnamed official said the Palestinian alliance came “while Israel was making sincere efforts to advance negotiations with the Palestinians.”
Hamas also has broken their silence since the reconciliation announcement with Fatah last week.
Hamas said on Sunday that it would not recognize Israel, although it indicated it would not obstruct negotiations between the PLO and the Jewish.
The Israeli official blamed Abbas of “time and again” thwarting Israeli and US efforts to extend talks, until “violating existent agreements by unilaterally applying to the UN conventions.”
Taher Nunu, Hamas government spokesman said he was misquoted by The Washington Post, and that despite comments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas saying that a unity government led by him will recognize Israel, Hamas would not recognize Israel.
Media reports said Hamas’s was initially reserved after the reconcilliation with the PA and only said Wednesday’s 'Gaza declaration' was “a national achievement and an important junction in Palestinian history.”
It was later credited with clarifying their position saying “The issue of Hamas recognizing Israel is a complete nonstarter… aimed primarily at weakening the movement’s positions on Israel.”
Taher Nunu, Hamas government spokesman said he was misquoted by The Washington Post, and that despite comments by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas saying that a unity government led by him will recognize Israel, Hamas would not recognize Israel.
Earlier last week, President Obama said that the pact between Palestinian Authority and Hamas calls for a review before talks resume.
* Twitter: @woolwichonline.
* Photo Credit: ToI
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