BICOM

Hamas condemned US President Barack Obama’s speech to AIPAC yesterday saying that despite demands by the US, the organisation will not recognise Israel. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said yesterday that Obama’s speech showed that the US supports Israel and the ‘occupation at the expense of the Palestinian people.’ Zuhri added that the US will fail to force Hamas to recognise Israel. Hamas called on the Palestinian Authority to reconsider its policies towards the US and the Middle East peace process, saying that the US is not an honest broker.

Saeb Erekat, meanwhile suggested to Israeli army radio this morning that the Palestinian would be willing to return to negotiations with Israel if Netanyahu were to accept the principle of a border based on the 1967 line, with mutually agreed swaps. He said the PA is, ‘waiting to see if Prime Minister Netanyahu says he accepts two states on 1967 lines with agreed swaps. Until we hear that, I think it would be a waste of time to speak about any other issue.’ The Palestinians have placed a range of preconditions on a return to direct talks in the past two years, including a complete halt to settlement construction.