Hamas rejects French peace initiative

Hamas has said that it refuses the anticipated French draft of a UN resolution that seeks to resume the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.

In an exclusive statement to Anadolu news agency, Hamas’s leading member Ismail Radwan said that the movement “rejects the French draft resolution, and warns of any international or European initiatives that detract from Palestinian rights and constants.”

“We warn of accepting any formula that detracts from our rights and constants – such as the right of return and the right to land – be it the French draft resolution or any subsequent draft resolution that may affect the rights of the Palestinians.”

Radwan reiterated his movement’s refusal to return to negotiations with Israel, describing them as “absurd” and a “waste of time”.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced at the end of March that his country would seek again to pass a resolution at the Security Council that specifies the framework of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, despite Israeli opposition and US reservations.

Fabius arrived on Sunday in Ramallah, where he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The French minister’s tour, which started with the Egyptian capital of Cairo, also includes Jordan Palestine and Israel. The tour aims to revive the peace process between Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Abbas said on Tuesday that he welcomes the anticipated French draft resolution, provided that it is in line with the Palestinian vision and what the Palestinians accept.

“We want the French draft resolution to include [the establishment of] an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, and we will not accept a Jewish state,” Abbas said during a meeting of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council.

Peace talks between the Palestinian and Israeli sides froze in late April of last year, after talks had been resumed for nine months under American auspices.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki said in a press statement on Sunday that the anticipated French draft resolution for the resumption of the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, has not materialised yet, and will not be ready before next September.

He noted that the Palestinians and Arabs prefer to present their own draft resolution at the UN Security Council instead of waiting for “French ideas”.