The Palestinian group Hamas says that the first face-to-face meeting in 16 months between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to try to restart stalled peace talks was a "farce" and a "waste of time."
Fawzi Barhoom, a spokesman for the Islamist group, which rules the Gaza Strip, said the talks in Jordan on January 3 "contradict the hopes and aspirations of our people."
The meeting, which was attended by Jordanian officials and representatives of the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations -- ended without any breakthroughs.
Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel, opposes Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's peace moves with the Jewish state.
compiled from agency reports
Fawzi Barhoom, a spokesman for the Islamist group, which rules the Gaza Strip, said the talks in Jordan on January 3 "contradict the hopes and aspirations of our people."
The meeting, which was attended by Jordanian officials and representatives of the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations -- ended without any breakthroughs.
Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel, opposes Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas's peace moves with the Jewish state.
compiled from agency reports
