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Mahmoud Abbas
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Hamas' al-Zahar
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PA official hints Israel, Hamas in secret talks

Abbas' spokesman threatens to expose 'secret talks' on long-term lull also aimed at undermining Palestinians' UN recognition bid

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said Saturday that the Palestinian Authority will soon expose information on "secret talks" between Israel and Arab and Palestinian elements aimed at preventing the PLO from submitting its UN status upgrade proposal.

 

Abu Rudeina hinted that a channel of communication had been established between Hamas and other Arab elements and Israel.

 

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He expressed bewilderment at "the harmony between (Benamin) Netanyahu and (Avigdor) Lieberman on the one hand and Hamas and other Arab forces on the other whose aim it is to undermine Palestinian President Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) prior to his United Nations bid."

 

He noted that the campaign against Abbas is being coordinated between "local, Arab and Israeli" elements.


כרזה של מורסי וראש ממשלת חמאס הנייה בעזה (צילום: AP)

Poster of Morsi and Hamas' Haniyeh in Gaza (Photo: AP)

 

The Palestinian spokesman further hinted that the talks are meant to negotiate a long-term lull between Hamas and Israel as well as recognition of a Palestinian state on provisional borders without agreement on Jerusalem and the refugee issues.

 

Hamas has slammed Abbas for what it perceives as his waiving of the right of return during an interview with Israel's Channel 2 that aired on Friday.

 

Netanyahu dismisses Abbas' statements

The Palestinian president said in the interview that he would like to visit his hometown of Safed but not live there. He stated that Palestine consists of the West Bank and Gaza on 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital. "All the rest is Israel," he added.

 

In response, Netanyahu said the statements do no reflect Abbas' actions on the ground including his refusal to restart peace negotiations.

 

Last week, a senior official at the Popular Front claimed that Hamas is engaged in secret talks with Israel aimed at reaching a 20-year lull. Rabah Mahane said that representatives of both sides recently met in one of Europe's capitals to discuss the matter.

 

The Israeli delegation, he added, expressed a desire to have Egypt involved in the deal. Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar firmly denied the claims.

 

You can contact Elior Levy, Ynet's Palestinian Affairs Correspondent, at: paldesk@gmail.com  

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.04.12, 09:13
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