RAMALLAH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday told U.S. peace envoy David Hale that there are no contradictions between the Palestinian reconciliation and peace with Israel.
The state-run Wafa news agency quoted Abbas, who held talks in Ramallah with Hale, as saying that peace for the Palestinians is strategic and the internal Palestinian reconciliation is a national Palestinian need.
The report said that Abbas reiterated to Hale that the Palestine Liberation Organization which he chairs, "is committed to all peace obligations in accordance to the signed peace deals reached with Israel."
On Monday, Abbas and Islamic Hamas movement's chief Khaled Meshaal signed in Doha, Qatar a reconciliation agreement, which ended disputes between the rivals on designating a Palestinian prime minister for the government, which will have a mission that prepares for the elections.
However, Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the deal, saying that Abbas has to choose between peace with Israel and the reconciliation with Hamas movement, but cannot have both together.
During his meeting with Hale, Abbas told him that Israel has to be committed to freezing settlement and accept the principle of the two-state solution.
"These are not conditions, it is a commitment," Abbas said, adding "these commitments would pave the road for the resumption of the talks on the permanent status issues."
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