The Palestinian Authority described as "irresponsible" comments by Khaled Meshaal, the political chief of Hamas that the movement would not renew a calm with Israel. Meshaal's comments "are irresponsible and are contrary to the national consensus" the Palestinian Authority, led by its president Mahmud Abbas, said in a statement on Saturday.
It said, according to AFP, the decision was aimed at "sabotaging the elections" planned for January 25 which Hamas is contesting for the first time.
Abbas himself said that the calm must be kept so that "security can be totally reestablished." "We have agreed a period of calm, a continuous truce and consequently we have to keep it so that security can be completely reestablished and we are not threatened by air strikes, artillery and missiles."
He said that it is "irresponsible to carry out acts of provocation against Israel" as these acts will "be contrary to the interests" of the Palestinians.
