Israel's security cabinet, meeting to discuss how to respond to the rapprochement between the Fatah movement headed by Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), which controls the Palestinian Authority on the West Bank, and the Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, has decided to break off contacts on continuing US-sponsored peace talks with the Palestinian Authority. Fatah and Hamas announced yesterday that they would set up a unity government of technocrats and would hold elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israel will also respond to what it describes as unilateral Palestinian action with economic measures.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Instead of choosing peace, Abu Mazen formed an alliance with a murderous terrorist organization that calls for the destruction of Israel.
"Abu Mazen has formed an alliance with an organization whose covenant calls for Muslims to fight and kill Jews. Hamas has fired more than 10,000 missiles and rockets at Israeli territory and has not halted terrorist actions against Israel even for a minute.
"The agreement between Abu Mazen and Hamas was signed even as Israel is making efforts to advance the negotiations with the Palestinians. It is the direct continuation of the Palestinians' refusal to advance the negotiations. Only last month Abu Mazen rejected the framework principles proposed by the United States. Abu Mazen has refused to even discuss recognizing Israel as the national state of the Jewish People. He violated existing agreements by unilaterally applying to accede to international treaties and then formed an alliance with Hamas. Whoever chooses the terrorism of Hamas does not want peace."
Zahava Gal-on, chairwoman of opposition party Meretz, said, "The true face of the Netanyahu government has been revealed. It was looking for a reason to break off negotiations. Instead of seeing the rapprochement between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas as an opportunity, they are punishing Abu Mazen, imposing sanctions on the Palestinian Authority, and rewarding Hamas."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 24, 2014
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