Peres shrugs off P.A. unity talks

http://www.jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=5905&ref=daily_briefing

Peres shrugs off P.A. unity talks

Shimon Peres dismissed the idea that a Palestinian Authority coalition government would seek to make peace with Israel.

The Israeli vice premier said Wednesday that long-running talks between the governing P.A. faction Hamas and the rival Fatah movement on a possible unity government was intended only to coax the international community into renewing aid to the Palestinian Authority.

“Hamas doesn’t want peace, even if we give them 1967 borders,” Peres told Israel Radio, referring to territories where Fatah has said it wants to found a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

“Hamas wants to use Fatah as a cover, a facade, so they can get money.”

Israeli officials previously had voiced cautious approval for the unity talks, but insisted that the West not abandon its demands that any future P.A. government renounce terrorism and recognize Israel’s right to exist.