Fatah Central Commitee member Nabil Shaat on Wednesday demanded an end to calls urging Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to recognize Israel. In an interview with Israel Radio, Shaath wondered if Israel would, in turn, recognize Hamas. Palestinian factions recently signed an Egypt-brokered deal to end a four-year rift. The agreement was scheduled to be celebrated today with Arab and world figures in attendance. Shaath said Russia and many other states have agreed that the demands imposed on Hamas by the Quartet on the Middle East were illogical and unworkable and have no place in the current context. The quartet, which includes the US, UN, EU and Russia, adopted a diplomatic boycott against Hamas after the group won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006. The boycott came in response to the militant group's refusal to renounce violence, commit to previous agreements signed between the Palestinians and Israel and recognize Israel's right to exist. The reconciliation deal marks the beginning of an end to a bitter conflict between the largest Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, which started when Hamas forcibly seized the Gaza Strip in 2007 - an action the Fatah-run Palestinian Auhtority viewed as a coup. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier rejected the planned reconciliation deal. He, along with other Israeli officials, said no talks can be held with a government that includes Hamas unless the group accepts Israel's right to exist. Translated from the Arabic Edition
