Zahhar: Abbas should have declared failure of settlement process

Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, a political bureau member of Hamas, said that former PA chief Mahmoud Abbas’s decision not to nominate himself for PA presidency was an internal Fatah matter.

He said that Abbas’s step was a message of reproach to his American and Zionist friends after they turned him into a mere tool (for their wishes).

Zahhar told the Egyptian newspaper Al-Destour published on Saturday that Abbas should have rather gone to the Palestinian people and frankly declared failure of the peace settlement.

He should return to the resistance option and adopt practical steps to restore Palestinian unity topped by ending political detention and releasing political detainees in his jails.

Abbas declared in a speech on Thursday that he would not nominate himself for another term in presidency and expressed regret for reaching a deadlock in internal Palestinian reconciliation and settlement talks with the Israeli government.