Israel wants dissolution of Palestinian unity government to resume peace talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded that the Palestinian Authority (PA) dissolve its unity pact with Hamas as a condition to resume peace talks, Israel Radio reported on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, PA President Mahmoud Abbas said that he is ready to resume peace talks with the Israeli occupation on condition the latter releases the fourth batch of long-serving Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu’s office subsequently issued a statement describing Mr Abbas’s announcement is “meaningless,” claiming that the new Palestinian government “is not considered as supportive of peace.”

Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, brokered by the US, broke down in April 2014 when the Israeli occupation government reneged on a previous agreement to release the veteran Palestinian prisoners.