Hamas denies readiness to start 'direct talks' with Israel
Islamist movement denies claims from Moussa Abu Marzouk that they are
willing to negotiate directly with Tel Aviv
Ahram Online , Thursday 11 Sep 2014
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/110513/World/Region/Hamas-denies-readiness-to-start-direct-talks-with-.aspx

In a press statement issued on Thursday, Hamas refuted earlier media reports
over the readiness of the Islamist movement to get involved in direct
negotiations with Israel.

"Direct negotiation with the Zionist enemy is not part of the movement's
policy, and it is not even under consideration," the statement said.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of Hamas' politburo, had said that Hamas was
ready to negotiate directly with Tel Aviv.

"We can deal with the Israeli enemy with words as we do with weapons,"
Al-Ahram's Arabic news website quoted him as saying to Al-Quds TV channel.

"Hamas might find itself made to do so because negotiations with the
occupier [Israel] have become a request of all the people in the Gaza Strip;
even the Palestinian Authority is burdened with the demands of the
Palestinians."

Abu Marzouk asserted that Hamas was "so far" against implementing such a
scenario, but added that "others have to be aware that it is not totally
forbidden."

Before denying Abu Marzouk's claims in its statement, Fatah spokesman Ahmed
Assaf said that his movement was long aware of Hamas' "secret" negotiations
with Israel.

According to Egypt's state-run news agency MENA, Assaf said that such talks
involved "humanitarian and political matters that do not serve the interests
of the Palestinians."

He questioned Hamas' actions: "Since when do Palestinian factions negotiate
with Israel on their own? Isn't this treason and a threat to the unity of
Palestinians and their political position?"

The leading Fatah figure said that Palestinians are "tired of Hamas'
opportunist use of religion."

"Sometimes they claim that talks are religiously forbidden, while allowing
themselves to solely negotiate in other incidents," he said.

Assaf argued that the issue does not involve a disagreement between Fatah
and the Islamist group as "Hamas tries to persuade the Palestinian and Arab
people," but rather a series of principles that should be adopted to "make
the reconciliation process fruitful."

Israel and Palestinian factions in late August reached an open-ended
Egypt-brokered ceasefire to the seven-week Israeli assault on the costal
enclave that left around 2,143 Palestinians dead and more than 12,000 others
injured. On the Israeli side, 70 persons, including 64 soldiers, were
killed.

Egypt's initiative – on which the truce deal was built – included opening
crossings into Gaza for goods and humanitarian and food aid, along with
medical supplies and material to repair water, electricity and mobile phone
networks.

Both sides also agreed to immediately end restrictions on Palestinian boats
in order to allow fishing and sailing activities up to six nautical miles.