Region | Palestinian Territories
Hamas debunks Livni remark
Palestinian officials termed the statement made on Sunday by Tzipi Livni, Israeli prime minister designate, on recommending early parliamentary elections as an "internal Israeli affair"
- By Jumana Al Tamimi, Associate Editor
- Published: 23:46 October 26, 2008
Dubai: Palestinian officials termed the statement made on Sunday by Tzipi Livni, Israeli prime minister designate, on recommending early parliamentary elections as an "internal Israeli affair"
Hamas says it is the latest signal confirming the failure of the peace talks as a way to resolve the Palestine issue.
"It is a slap on the face of all peace talks supporters and those who bet on such a settlement," Hamas spokesperson in Gaza, Sami Al Zuhri, told Gulf News. The remark also "reflects the big division and weakness in the Israeli agenda," he added.
However, a Palestinian official source in the President Mahmoud Abbas' office rejected the Islamic Resistance Movement's intepretation of Livni's remark.
"Hamas is incapable of making such a judgement because it is not a partner in the peace talks," the source, who asked not to be named, told Gulf News.
"It is an Israeli internal affair, and we are committed to negotiate with any Israeli government," added the official source in reference to Livni's announcement. "What concerns us is the different positions that various Israeli parties will push forward in the peace talks."
In her statement, Livni, who was appointed a month earlier to form a government to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, announced that she was willing to make concessions but had to put a stop to "impossible" demands.
"When it became clear that everyone and every party was exploiting the opportunity to make demands that were economically and diplomatically illegitimate, I decided to call off (talks) and go to elections," she said.
The Kadima leader was expected to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres later yesterday to discuss her decision. Peres can then set into motion a process leading to an early election.
Livni's efforts were challenged early on by Shas Party because officials of the ultra-orthodox party reject any discussion on the future of occupied Jerusalem with the Palestinians.
Shas Party is a key member of Olmert's coalition, and without its support, it will be difficult for Livni to cobble together a parliamentary majority.
Last Friday, Shas Party said it would not join the government because of Livni's refusal to accept their budgetary demands and to pledge not to discuss occupied Jerusalem with the Palestinians.
Dilemma
Early elections in Israel would literally mean a continuation of the political dilemma in Israel for several months, and freezing the already stagnant peace talks with the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Livni seemed confident of her success. In a statement she said she believed Kadima would win the parliamentary poll, which many analysts anticipate will be held in mid-February next year.
Opinion polls have predicted the right-wing party of former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an opponent of wide-ranging territorial compromise, would win the election.
Many Palestinians, including Hamas believe that all Israeli parties are the same.
"All Israeli parties deny Palestinian rights," Al Zuhri said. "There is no difference between them."
The Hamas spokesperson added, "Early Israeli elections will provide another excuse to justify the freezing of peace talks".
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