'Abbas is warning his Zionist friends'

Abbas is warning his Zi

By JPOST.COM STAFF
abbas good pic 248.88 ap (photo credit: AP [file])
abbas good pic 248.88 ap
(photo credit: AP [file])
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud's Abbas's "threat" not to run for re-election in upcoming January elections is meant to "warn his American and Zionist friends," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Thursday. "He wants to let them know he's not happy with them," Zuhri added. The Hamas spokesman went on to urge Abbas to "face the Palestinians, and tell them honestly that negotiations have failed." He said that the PA president should bring all talks with "the occupation" to a halt, and take "practical steps towards reconciliation." The comments came after Abbas told Fatah officials on Wednesday night that he would not run for office in the 2010 presidential elections, later conveying the same message to the PLO Central Committee. Earlier Thursday, Zuhri was quoted by Israel Radio as saying that Abbas's candidacy was an issue which must be solved by Fatah internally. According to the report, Zuhri went on to suggest that Abbas may be attempting to pressure the US by signaling that he was the only feasible candidate for peace talks with Israel. Hamas announced in October that it would boycott the elections and prevent them from taking place in the Gaza Strip.