Expanding settlements in Jerusalem proves lies of ZOA's peace overtures

Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades, 12.12.07. The Hamas Movement affirmed that the Zionist occupation authority's announcement of building new housing units in occupied east Jerusalem proves failure of Annapolis conference and that its peace overtures were a lie. Dr. Sami Abu Zuhri, the Hamas spokesman in Gaza, told the PIC correspondent in an exclusive statement that the move indicated that ZOA would not abide by any pledge on halting settlement activity. He said that the step meant that Annapolis was merely a "big lie and a deception", and called on the PA leadership to stop contacts with the ZOA following that step. He underlined, "It is no use negotiating with occupation in the light of such a stand". Abu Zuhri also said that it was strange the PA leadership was insisting on implementing the roadmap plan while Zionist entity was shunning it. PA chief Mahmoud Abbas is called upon to reconsider his stands, Abu Zuhri said.

The Zionist occupation government had invited construction firms to bid for contracts to build 307 housing units in eastern Jerusalem occupied in 1967. The step came less than a week after conclusion of the Annapolis conference in which US president George Bush declared that the Zionists and the Palestinians have agreed on initiating talks on final status issues.

Jihad leader Khaled Al-Batesh said in a press release in Gaza on Wednesday that the conference was held with the aim of eliminating the Palestinian people's legitimate rights including the establishment of an independent state and the right of return. He said that other goals of that conference were preparing strikes against Syria, Iran, Hamas and Hizbullah, tightening the siege on Gaza, justifying aggressions on the Strip and deepening the rift between Hamas and Fatah.