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Israeli Official: Palestinians Don't Want Peace

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JERUSALEM, Israel -- The P.A. is uninterested in peace, a senior Israeli government official said in response to the Palestinian Authority's demands to extend U.S.-brokered talks with Israel.

P.A. leader Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, laid out his demands to Israeli reporters in Ramallah on Tuesday.

First, Israel must agree to a construction freeze in Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem neighborhoods outside the green line (pre-1967 armistice lines).

Israel must also agree to release the fourth group of prisoners, which includes 14 Israeli Arab convicts, who may not be relocated to areas under P.A. control.

Israel also must agree to focus on the borders of a future Palestinian state.

"It's impossible to define borders before an agreement on the other issues," the source in Netanyahu's office said.

Abbas also reiterated he would not recognize Israel's right to exist as the Jewish nation-state

"The meaning of all these things is that he [Abbas] is not interested in peace," Ynet reported. "Someone who wants peace does not continue to make demands they know Israel cannot accept."

The source also cited Tuesday's meetings between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to form a unity government, saying that too makes it clear the P.A. is not seeking peace with Israel.

"Behind the empty statements on peace, Abu Mazen is holding unity talks with Hamas, which around the world is considered a terror organization bent on destroying Israel and killing Jews," he said.

Al-Jazeera reported the two factions set a five-week timeframe in which to form a unity government. Officials from both Fatah and Hamas said the time has come to put their differences behind them and form one national program.

Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said it's the same old rhetoric Israel's heard time and again from the P.A.

"We are hearing again and again the refrain of the same threat -- that if we don't advance, if we don't give him what he wants, then woe is us. He will dismantle the P.A.," the Times of Israel quoted Bennett. "I suggest to Abbas if you're going to shoot, then shoot, don't talk."

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