Peace Talks Reach Stalemate As Kerry Frames Outline For Final Agreement

In the framework of the Palestinian reconciliation talks, and just days after a Fatah delegation arrived to the Gaza Strip to meet Hamas leaders, Hamas issued a statement, on Saturday, calling upon Fatah to withdraw from negotiations with the Israeli occupation without further delay, in light of information leaked about US Secretary of State John Kerry’s framework agreement.

In the statement issued by Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, in the name of Hamas, the Islamic movement declares that Kerry’s plans would lead to a liquidation of the Palestine cause. Abu Zuhri added that Fatah should stop adopting unilateral decisions concerning fateful issues, the Alternative Information Center (AIC) has reported.

The statement by Hamas comes on the backdrop of diplomatic declarations made by Israeli, American and Palestinian leaders during the meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

John Kerry outlined several U.S. principles for a negotiated solution of the core issues, during a public address on Friday. According to Kerry’s outline, the negotiations should lead to an independent Palestinian state and to security arrangements for Israel. Moreover, Kerry outlined that negotiations should also lead to a just and agreed solution to the Palestinian refugee issue, to an end of the conflict and all claims and to mutual recognition of the nation-state of the Palestinian people and the nation-state of the Jewish people.

Kerry added that he is working with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on a framework for negotiations that would include those principles for the core issues.

On the other hand, the Israeli prime minister, speaking in Hebrew to Israeli journalists, said that he will not evacuate West Bank settlements. This statement was made amid three separate meetings he held with Kerry.