Gaza's deputy Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) speaker Ahmad Bahar called a return to negotiations with Israel a "waste of the Palestinian cause," saying the outcomes of any talks would "not meet any standards of legitemacy."
The statement on Thursday followed rumors that indirect talks with a US envoy shuttling between Israel and the PLO could start as early as Sunday, after the Arab League gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for talks within a four-month timeframe.
Bahar said a return to talks before Palestinian unity is achieved would be tantamount to "eliminating national rights," and would not be recognized by Palestinians.
"Returning to the negotiations is a violation of the promises President Mahmoud Abbas made, he vowed to not return to negotiations until settlement construction freezes," Bahar said. "Returning to negotiations under any pretext amidst settlement expansion and the violation of our holy sites gives official cover to the occupation to continue the siege, settlement construction and assaults on Palestinians."
Bahar said he would hold Abbas and the Fatah party responsibly for the national and historic consequences that returning top peace talks would bring, and called on the Arab League to step in immediately and review its decision to "bless negotiations with the occupation."
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