Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday said recent statements by Israeli President Shimon Peres about peace talks with the Palestinians "were a slap on the face of Palestinian negotiators."

    On Friday, an Israeli newspaper quoted Peres as saying that there is no chance of agreement between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) because Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is weak and lacks popular supports. Peres also referred to Hamas-Fatah split in justifying his thoughts.

    Commenting on Peres statements, Hamas said that the Israeli occupation "negotiate with Oslo team (the PA) from a powerful and proud prospective and doesn't respect a partner and doesn't look for making peace."

    "Peres' statements prove that the occupation leaders consider the Palestinian President a strong only when he is able to implement their security deals and crack down on the resistance," Hamas added.

    Hamas, which controls Gaza Strip and entered in a six-month ceasefire with Israel last month, said that its resistance in Gaza" imposed its conditions" on the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. "The weapons and the tunnels, instead of negotiations, are the only language that the occupation understands."