Islamist Hamas must disarm for Israel to accept deal between Palestinian factions
Jerusalem — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel would reject any reconciliation deal between the two leading Palestinian factions unless the Iran-backed Islamist movement Hamas disarmed. "We are not prepared to accept bogus reconciliations in which the Palestinian side apparently reconciles at the expense of our existence," Netanyahu said in a statement. "Whoever wants to make such a reconciliation, our understanding is very clear: recognise the state of Israel, disband the Hamas military arm [and] sever the connection with Iran — which calls for our destruction," Netanyahu added. Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah began a three-day visit to Gaza on Monday as the two leading factions seek a reconciliation deal that could lead to a unity government. He chaired the first meeting of the Palestinian cabinet in the Gaza Strip for three years on Tuesday, in a move towards reconciliation between the mainstream Fatah party and Islamist group Hamas. Hamas sei...
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