Hamas leader defies condition on Palestinian unity by visiting Iran
Terrorist group's deputy Saleh Arouri draws criticism from US diplomats after he makes trip to the Islamic Republic
A top Hamas official defiantly rejected Israel’s conditions for recognising Hamas-Palestinian Authority unity, noting that the very act he was committing — an official visit to Iran — went against the conditions.
“Our presence in Iran is the practical denial of the third precondition — cutting ties with Iran,” said Saleh Arouri, the deputy chief of the terrorist organisation controlling the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters, which quoted Iranian news wires.
Arouri, who was in Iran over the weekend, also committed Hamas to rejecting the other two conditions, disarming and recognising Israel.
The Trump administration has encouraged the unity talks — while also embracing Israel’s conditions — seeing the Palestinian Authority’s return to control in Gaza as key to advancing peace talks.
President Donald Trump’s top negotiator, Jason Greenblatt, decried Arouri’s defiance in posts Monday on Twitter.
“Hamas, which has only brought ruin and misery to Palestinians, now begs Iran for help and again vows to destroy Israel,” Greenblatt said. “Palestinians deserve so much better than this. We must find a better path forward toward peace and prosperity.”
Hamas, which has only brought ruin and misery to Palestinians, now begs Iran for help and again vows to destroy Israel. 1/2
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) October 23, 2017
Palestinians deserve so much better than this. We must find a better path forward toward peace and prosperity. 2/2
— Jason D. Greenblatt (@jdgreenblatt45) October 23, 2017
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
