MP: Abbas halted ICC bid on Israeli war crimes
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has blocked an attempt to push for the prosecution of Israel for war crimes in Gaza at the International Criminal Court, the second-deputy speaker of the Palestinian parliament said on Friday.
Hasan Khreisha told Ma'an that the Palestinian Authority's decision to join the ICC and thus press charges against Israel for its offensive that killed more than 2,100 and devastated the Gaza Strip was halted by Abbas in order to push forward a new peace talks bid.
"President Abbas decided not to sue Israel at the ICC unless his new initiative fails to resume peace talks with Israel," Khreisha said, adding that the PA was waiting for the United States to officially reply to a message from Abbas asking for the resumption of talks.
Abbas has been under fire within Palestine in recent days for failing to support a move to make Palestine an ICC member, most sharply by Hamas, which on Friday said that "signing the Rome Statute is the right of every victim and stalling is neglecting their rights and an offense to the image of Palestinians."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=727111
Hamas denies running 'shadow government' in Gaza
Days after Abbas threatens to break off Hamas unity agreement saying it was not allowing government to operate in Gaza, group's political chief insists 'talk of a parallel government is totally against reality'.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4570415,00.html
