Hamas rejects Israel talks offer

[oberliner]

Khaled Meshaal, the exiled political leader of Hamas, has said the group rejected a European offer for an indirect meeting with Israel to discuss an end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking at a rally in Damascus, the Syrian capital, on Friday to mark Hamas' 20th anniversary, Meshaal said that "some Europeans have offered us to meet indirectly with Israelis to discuss a truce and we told them no and one thousands nos".

He did not say what European country made the offer.

Meshaal also said he was ready to talk "unconditionally" with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.

He said: "We are ready for an unconditional dialogue in which all issues will be discussed, including that of bringing forward elections.

"I say to the leaders of Fatah that our differences are political."

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7E756712-6A75-4572-8054-CF62C98B5362.htm

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Unity talks with Fatah are long overdue. Let's hope Abbas has the sense to concur. nt

[Behind the Aegis]

2. no surprises.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Bit of a misleading headline there...

When I read it, I thought Israel had changed its mind and was willing to engage in talks with Hamas. Good thing I read the rest of it :)

I do find it kind of amusing that there are folk who go on and on about how Israel shouldn't enter into talks with Hamas who then turn around and conveniently forget this refusal to talk is from both sides, and criticise Hamas for not wanting to enter into talks with Israel...