French initiative harms Palestinian principles, say factions

The main Palestinian factions, with the exception of Fatah, announced their rejection of the French peace initiative on Friday, saying that it “harms Palestinian principles,” Anadolu has reported.

In a joint statement, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front and Democratic Front made it clear that they “reject” the French move. “This initiative aims for the resumption of the absurd negotiations, affording coverage for the further Judaisation of Jerusalem and liquidation of the right of the Palestinian [refugees] to return home.”

The groups called for the world to move “urgently to stop the Israeli crimes being carried out against the Palestinian holy places, as well as to lift the Israeli siege” of the Gaza Strip.

A consultation meeting on the French initiative was held in Paris on Friday in which 28 countries took part. They included the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Middle East Quartet, the Arab League and other partners. While Israel has rejected the move, the Palestinian Authority has hailed and backed it.

Palestine-Israel talks stopped in April 2014 after Israel refused to suspend its illegal settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, accept the two-state solution and release Palestinian prisoners.