Hamas: Abbas-Mitchell meeting initiation of talks with Israel
The Movement of Hamas considered on Monday the meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell an announcement of initiating the indirect negotiations with Israel.
In a press statement to the Palestinian information center (PIC), Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that the resumption of peace talks especially at this time confirmed the bankruptcy of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Spokesman Barhoum pointed out that the reason for Fatah Movement’s insistence on not renouncing the policy of negotiation with Israel is to show that the “peace” option did not fail because the failure of this option means the fall of Fatah.
The spokesman stressed that the Israeli declaration of building 112 housing units in the settlement of Beitar Illit in conjunction with Mitchell’s visit to the region bore out that the US policy is based on the protection of Israel’s interests and providing it with the cover it needs for its crimes and violations.
In the same context, Washington backed Israel’s decision to expand Beitar Illit settlement in the West Bank.
US state department spokesman Philip Crowley told a news conference that Israel’s approval to the building of new units in the settlement was not a violation of its decision to freeze construction in settlements.
Crowley said that the Palestinian and Israeli parties have, in light of the current situation, to be cautious about actions that could be misconstrued in the region.
He added that each party must consider the interest of the other party and the concepts it believes in so as not to give an opportunity to those threatening the peace process.
For its part, the Marker newspaper reported that the Israeli government decided to transfer $40,000,000 to Israeli settlers in the West Bank as compensation for allegedly freezing construction in the settlements they live in.
