Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday that peace talks with Israel must continue despite the escalating confrontation between Israel and the Hamas government in Gaza Strip. "We insist that the negotiations continue, and that we reach a solution this year that will satisfy our people and our national demands," he said, according to the AP.
"Halting contacts with Israel is useless," he said. "On the contrary, we should intensify our contacts and our meetings to stop the suffering of our people." Abbas also offered to have his government take control of the Palestinian side of Gaza Strip crossings.
Abbas had come under growing pressure at home to suspend negotiations after Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza Strip last week. A few days ago, Al-Quds daily has reported Abbas was threatening to resign and end negotiations with Israel in protest at the continued Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
