- Title: SYRIA: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal says the latest peace talks have no legitimacy
- Date: 1st September 2010
- Summary: THE AUDIENCE
- Embargoed: 16th September 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA2UVNLQUEQO5LV9PMGALCIYHIL
- Story Text: The latest Palestinian-Israeli talks that are to be held in Washington have to legitimacy, renounced Hamas Leader Khaled Meshaal on Tuesday (August 31).
"The meeting of Washington is a failed meeting that has to legitimacy; no political legitimacy, no national legitimacy and no moral legitimacy. Because it is the road of weak people who have split up from their people and responded to the American commander. But those are weak to dare about the Palestinian land and rights. Netanyahu and Obama know that those are nothing and they do not represent anything. The resistance is the one that represents our people," said Meshaal during a charity Iftar meal organized by Hamas for orphaned children.
The direct talks are due to be held in Washington under the U.S. patronage on September 2, 2010.
The Palestinians have threatened to pull out of the face-to-face peace negotiations, due to begin on Thursday, unless Israel extends the moratorium on new housing starts past its expiration date of September 26.
Netanyahu, who heads a government dominated by pro-settler parties including his own, has given no sign he will continue to curb construction of homes for Jews in the occupied West Bank but told his Likud party a peace deal was possible.
The Palestinians wanted the talks to be based on a statement issued by the Middle East Quartet and international law, he added. U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell has said the sides will determine the terms of reference when they meet.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak met Abbas in secret in Amman on Sunday, Israel Radio said, although it did not give details of the talks and said Barak reported back to Netanyahu.
In a high-profile drive for peace, which contrasts with low expectations amongst Israelis and Palestinians, U.S. President Barack Obama will host Netanyahu, Abbas, Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at a dinner on Wednesday.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are due to resume, after a 20-month break punctuated by Israel's Gaza war, on Thursday with a ceremony at the State Department.
Israeli Vice Premier Silvan Shalom said on Sunday that Netanyahu had told cabinet ministers there would be no decision on the settlement issue, which could split his governing coalition, before the Jewish New Year starting on Sept 8. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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