Mahmoud Abbas called for reopening dialogue with Hamas.
In his televised speech Wednesday evening to the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority president offered no details about future talks. Abbas for the last year has been adamant that he would not talk to Hamas until the radical Islamic group ceded control of the Gaza Strip it took more than a year ago.
“The failure of the peace process, the tragic situation in Gaza, the entire Palestinian situation required thinking courageously of an exit,” The Associated Press quoted Abbas aide Nimer Hamad as saying. “We hope that Hamas will respond positively to the call.”
Hamas was voted into power in 2006 parliamentary elections, but the international community has continued to isolate the group in Gaza.
In his address, Abbas criticized Israel for continuing to build in the settlements and he pledged to call for new presidential and parliamentary elections if the dialogue with Hamas is successful, the AP reported.
