Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that Hamas has a right not to recognise Israel, and that it is a Palestinian group, not a terrorist one.
In an interview with Irem News website, Erekat accused Israel of “flagrant intervention in Palestinian affairs”. He pointed out that “Israel is aware that a Palestinian state along 67 borders would not be viable without inter-Palestinian reconciliation”.
Furthermore, Erekat accused Israel of using the reconciliation agreement as a pretext to hinder negotiations. He also considered Israel’s warning of imposing sanctions on the Palestinian Authority as a form of “thuggery”, stressing that there is no return to negotiations unless Israel fulfils its commitments.