Hamas leader denounces Abbas peace ads in Israeli press

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has denounced Hebrew-language newspaper ads published by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Israeli papers. According to Mashaal, Palestinian rights can only be regained through resistance, not advertisements. In Sunday's speech in Damascus, Mashaal criticized continued contact between Abbas and Israeli leadership despite ongoing Israeli "crimes" in Gaza and settlement building in the West Bank. The full-page ads published by Abbas in three Hebrew-language newspapers this week explained to Israelis that a withdrawal from Palestinian territories would bring full recognition by the Arab world.