Hamas has denounced a "pro-Israeli" statement made by the Middle East Quartet, saying the group is heavily biased towards the regime.
"Expressing concern over Jewish settlements and criticism of increased settler violence and then describing the legitimate Palestinian resistance as terrorism showed complicity with the Zionist occupation and the full bias in favor of it," Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Saturday.
In a ministerial session in New York, the diplomatic group which is made up of the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States, called on Palestinians to put an end to "acts of terrorism" against Israel.
Hamas however slammed the committee's final words saying, "It is perfectly unjust to qualify as terrorism the Palestinian resistance, which is perfectly legitimate".
Barhoum also criticized the US dominance on the group's biased decisions in favor of Israel and said the statement which "reveals very clearly the American hegemony,... aims to form a public opinion hostile to the Palestinian people and aims to discredit them".
"The US-backed crimes (in the Gaza Strip) are programmed to liquidate the Palestinian people, their cause, and their rights."
Regarding the acceleration of the Jewish settlement expansion by Israel, Hamas said "It is not enough for the Quartet to express its concern over settlements, action is needed".
Under the road map peace plan, Tel Aviv has committed not to establish new settlements in East Jerusalem (al-Quds) and the West Bank. The regime also pledged to halt all settlement activities in al-Quds and the West Bank during the Annapolis conference in November 2007.
In addition to the construction activity, Israeli military forces regularly launch operations against Palestinians in the occupied land and kill civilians. Last week the troops killed a 14 year old Palestinian boy and a 60 year old woman in the West bank.
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