 Hamas and 10 Damascus-based Palestinian organizations played their parts in the Kabuki theater around the resumption of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Sunday. The Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front -- General Command and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine were among the groups represented in the statement.| Palestine must have the highest per-capita concentration of 'revolutionary' groups in the world. |
| They're like amoebas, they just keep budding off ... |
"The Palestinian refusal movements confirm their objection to direct or indirect talks and warn against the dangerous consequences of a policy which undermines national Palestinian rights. Return to direct negotiations is capitulation to the demands of the US and the Zionists, who seek to abolish these rights," said the joint statement.| "We put the refuse in refusal", they added. |
The groups criticized US policy, which they claimed seeks to "mask Israel's plan to expand the settlements, Judaise the land, gain control of Jerusalem and kick fluffy kittens maintain the Gaza Strip blockade."
Meanwhile, Israel continues to promote direct talks together with the Quartet and moderate Arab states. Hillary Clinton spoke to Netanyahu and Egypt's and Jordan's foreign ministers over the weekend in an effort to promote agreements prior to a Quartet statement to be issued later.
The main bone of contention is the question of pre-conditions to the negotiations. Paleos are adamant that there should be an immediate and full settlement construction freeze in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.| 0's 'smart diplomacy' at work. |
Israeli state officials pointed out that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may plan on stalling direct talks until the construction freeze will no longer be in effect, on September 26. |