Update: Israel’s security Cabinet suspends peace talks in response to Palestinian unity accord

Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — An emergency meeting of Israel’s security Cabinet failed to arrive at a response to the unity accord signed by Palestinian factions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the meeting on Thursday, a day after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party and Hamas, considered a terrorist organization in both Israel and the United States, signed their agreement.

The meeting ended without a conclusion, the Times of Israel reported.

Following the signing of the agreement in Gaza, Israel canceled a planned meeting with Palestinian peace negotiators.

Several members of the security Cabinet have criticized the unity agreement, including Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, Finance Minister Yair Lapid, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel’s chief peace negotiator.

Senior Fatah official Jibril Rajoub told Israel’s Army Radio on Thursday morning that the reconciliation agreement obligates Hamas to accept a two-state solution.

Liberman reiterated Thursday morning that there cannot be peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as long as Abbas honors the unity agreement.

“It is clear that as soon as Abbas chose to unite with Hamas, it is impossible to make peace with Israel,” Liberman told Israel Radio.

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