VIDEO - The cabinet approved on Sunday a boycott of the new Palestinian unity government by a vote of 19 to zero.
Ministers Eitan Cabel and Raleb Majadele of Labor abstained.
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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said during the cabinet meeting that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to join Hamas in a unity government made it difficult for Israel to
maintain contacts with him.
“Not only did he join the unity government with Hamas, which does not adhere to the international community’s demands, but he has also agreed to bring any diplomatic agreement for the approval of the Palestinian National Council, which will include Hamas representatives, or put it to a referendum that will include Palestinians living abroad and in refugee camps,” she said.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres said the Palestinians should forgo their demands for the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
“Right of return means only one thing - turning Israel into a Palestinian state,” he said. “Israel still backs the concept of two states for two peoples, while Hamas is interested in one Palestinian state in the region.”
Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog said during the meeting that “our position regarding the Quartet (demands) is just and fair, but Israel must be wise in its policies, not only right.”
'Israel must be wise.' Sunday's cabinet meeting (photo: Gil Yochanan)
Herzog added that Israel must remain firm in its demands that the Right of Return for Palestinian refugees is non-negotiable, that terror attacks and the firing of Qassam rockets end, and that kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit be freed. Abbas must remain a legitimate partner for a genuine political process, he added.
Defense Minister Amir Peretz, for his part, said that Fatah ministers in the new Palestinian unity government should not be boycotted as they were “not members of a terror organization.”
“It is wrong to classify moderate ministers in the same category as Hamas ministers,” he said.
Leftist Knesset Member Zahava Gal-On (Meretz) called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to cooperate with the new PA government and continue talking to Abbas.
“A government that is not willing to hold talks with the (Palestinian) unity government is not serving Israel’s interests and is delaying the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit” she said.
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