Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signalled on Thursday that peace talks with Israel would still be possible during the term of a new interim government formed as part of a unity deal with Hamas.
Abbas said the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), which he heads and to which Hamas does not belong, would still be responsible for "handling politics, negotiations". He was speaking for the first time since the unity deal was unveiled in Cairo on Wednesday. A senior Hamas leader said negotiations would not be part of the programme of the new government to be formed as part of the agreement. Israel rejects any talks with Hamas, whose charter calls for its destruction.
