Mishaal: The US administration coerced the PA into direct talks

[ 25/08/2010 - 10:15 AM ]

DAMASCUS, (PIC)-- Head of Hamas's political bureau Khaled Mishaal stated that the direct talks slated to take place between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel would be conducted under duress and with an American summons as he described in a dinner meeting held in Damascus on Tuesday.

Mishaal explained that the decision taken by the executive committee of the Palestine liberation organization (PLO) lacked a quorum and was like an echo of orders issued by Washington, noting that the majority of moderate Palestinians, the elite and 11 Palestinian factions opposed the direct talks with Israel.

The Hamas leader stressed that the PA is believed to be responsible for many disasters that happened at this stage in the Palestinian arena, including that the Israeli premier would not have had the audacity to demand recognition of Israel as a Jewish state if the PA had not been vulnerable.

He condemned the international quartet's statement on the direct talks as a fig leaf insufficient to cover the PA's nudity and weakness, and criticized US secretary of state Hillary Clinton for rejecting the Palestinian conditions and supporting the Israeli ones.

The leader also warned that these negotiations are not intended for reaching a just settlement for the Palestinian cause, but liquidating it.

Mishaal called on the Egyptian president and the Jordanian king not to participate in the launch of these talks because they did not get national legitimacy and would lead to dire consequences for the whole region and not only the Palestinians.

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