[ 23/08/2010 - 02:07 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The elected Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, stated Sunday that the Palestinian Authority's compliance with the will of the American administration and its acceptance to engage in direct talks with the Israeli occupation is a failed policy that will never succeed.

"Do not feel sorry for those who alienated themselves from the [Muslim] nation and sold themselves out to the occupation, for this is a failed policy that will never find success or restore the (Palestinian) rights and (the Islamic and Christian) holy sites," Haniya said addressing the congregation in Al-Khulafa Al-Rashideen mosque in Jabaliya refugee camp following the Ramadan night prayers.

The premier also hailed in his speech the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in Jabaliya camp and their admirable role in resisting the Israeli occupation and expressed his full confidence that the strategy of patience and fortitude would achieve victory sooner or later.

In a press statement to the Palestinian information center (PIC), Hamas spokesman Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri said that the conditions announced by the Israeli premier about the occupation state's security and its unwillingness to extend the alleged freeze imposed on settlement expansion reflected the real goals of the negotiations.

Spokesman Abu Zuhri stressed that the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations are primarily aimed at ensuring Israel's security and serving its interests represented in annexing more Palestinian lands for the expansion of settlements and terminating the Palestinian refugees' right to return to their homes.

"We, in Hamas, consider the negotiations as declared in these Israeli statements disastrous talks aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause in favor of the occupation," the spokesman added.

For his part, secretary-general of the Palestinian legislative council Mahmoud Al-Ramahi stated that the acceptance of the PA and the Palestine liberation organization to engage in direct talks with the Israeli occupation on the anniversary of the arson attack on the Aqsa Mosque is a bad omen for the Palestinian people and their national cause

Ramahi underlined that the international quartet's statement and the American pledges did not obligate Israel for anything, and rather pressured the PA, the vulnerable party, to enter these negotiations.

He also expressed his dismay at the PA's persistence in going into negotiations, although Israeli officials repeatedly confirmed that they would not freeze settlement construction and would not discuss the issue of occupied Jerusalem during any talks.

Benjamin Netanyahu had identified, during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, what he called the foundations and principles of the direct talks with the PA and refused any conditions or demands set by the Palestinian side.

Netanyahu emphasized that the principles of these talks are based on real security arrangements and the Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

He noted that achieving peace with the Palestinians could be difficult, but attainable if there is a genuine Palestinian partner.