Israel suspends peace talks after Hamas-Fatah deal

“The security cabinet decided unanimously this evening that the government of Israel will not hold negotiations with a Palestinian government that is backed by Hamas, a terror organisation that calls for Israel‘s destruction,” an official statement said.

The current round of negotiations is due to end on 29 April.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Mr Abbas had to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas.

Israel will not hold negotiations with a Palestinian government that is backed by Hamas, a terror organisation. Israeli security cabinet statement

“You can have one but not the other. I hope he chooses peace. So far, he hasn’t done so,” Mr Netanyahu said.

Mr Netanyahu repeated the message in an interview with the BBC, warning that Fatah had to end its pact with Hamas if it wanted peace.

Israel has threatened unspecified additional steps – a possible reference to economic sanctions – in response to what it called “unilateral actions” by the Palestinian Authority.

Possible future talks

The Fatah-Hamas pact anticipates a unity government within five weeks and national elections six months later.

The Palestinian Authority, led by Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, has authority over the West Bank; the Islamist Hamas group has governed the Gaza Strip since 2006.

Hamas does not acknowledge the state of Israel, although one PLO official has stated that the reconciliation agreement includes working towards a two-state solution that recognises Israel’s existence.

An official with Israel’s security cabinet appeared to leave open the possibility of talks resuming if a future Palestinian government, with Hamas’s participation, accepts international conditions that Hamas has in the past rejected.

In addition to a recognition of Israel, those conditions include a renunciation of violence and acceptance of existing interim peace deals.