Hamas: Netanyahu jeered at proponents of peace talks

Hamas says Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest comments about the regime’s settlement activity in Jerusalem (al-Quds) came as a slap in the face to proponents of the so-called peace talks.

“Such a statement was not a surprise for the Palestinian people,” Hamas lawmaker Mahmoud al-Ramahi said on Tuesday.

Netanyahu had said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday that “Construction in Jerusalem is like construction in Tel Aviv and we have clarified that for the American government.”

Netanyahu said that all Israeli administrations have maintained the same policy on building in East al-Quds, and that he has informed Washington of that in writing.

He stressed that Israeli policy regarding construction in al-Quds has remained unchanged.

Ramahi appealed to organizers of the forthcoming Arab summit in Libya to adopt, in return, firm stances such as revoking the Arab peace initiative, expelling Israeli ambassadors, and halting all forms of normalization with Israel.

He also urged the Arab countries to pressure the American administration to end its unlimited support of Israel.