Abbas: No contradiction between Hamas unity and peace
By JPOST.COM STAFF 02/08/2012 21:52
PA president tells US envoy reconciliation deal is a Palestinian national need; Netanyahu says PA has embraced terrorist organizations instead of peace; Peres says PA must choose between Hamas and peace.
US special envoy David Hale meets Abbas [file] By Mohamad Torokman / Reuters

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas insisted that there is no contradiction between continuing the peace process with Israel and Fatah reconciliation with Hamas, in a meeting with US Mideast envoy David Hale in Ramallah Wednesday. Abbas told Hale that concluding the reconciliation deal with Hamas is a Palestinian national need, adding that peace with Israel is a strategic choice, official PLO news agency WAFA reported.

The PLO is committed to all its obligations from agreements signed with Israel, including the road map, Abbas added, calling on Israel to accept a two-state solution on the basis of 1967 lines, halt settlement activity and release Palestinian prisoners. Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the Palestinian Authority has embraced terrorist organizations instead of peace.

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