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Hamas' Meshal denounces Abbas' peace ads in Israeli newspapers By The Associated Press DAMASCUS, Syria - Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshal yesterday denounced Hebrew-language newspaper ads outlining a proposed Arab peace deal that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas published in Israeli papers. Meshal, in a speech at the opening session of a Palestinian conference, did not mention Abbas by name but suggested he was a "merchant" selling Palestinians' rights. Advertisement "Our people's legitimate rights are not goods to be marketed, and national leaders are not merchants who announce their goods through paid ads in Israeli newspapers," said Meshal. Palestinian rights, he added, can only be regained through resistance, not advertisements. The full-page ad published by Abbas in three Hebrew-language newspapers this week explained to Israelis that a withdrawal from Palestinian territories would bring full recognition by the Arab world - in line with a peace initiative first proposed in 2002 and relaunched at an Arab summit last year. The ad says 57 Arab and Muslim countries would establish diplomatic ties with Israel in exchange for a withdrawal from lands Palestinians seek for an independent state, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of Jerusalem. In his speech, the Damascus-based Meshal also criticized continued contact between Abbas and Israeli leadership despite ongoing Israeli "crimes" in Gaza and settlement building in the West Bank. Hamas and Abbas' mainstream Fatah faction have been bitter rivals since Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Following the takeover, Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led government from his base in the West Bank and formed a new administration excluding the more radical group. Arab mediation efforts have so far failed to achieve reconciliation. Meshal said Abbas was not "qualified" and has no right to negotiate with Israel on his own. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Spy chain Iran: We smashed espionage network linked to Israel. Poultry dilemma Will U.S. Jews have kosher Turkey this Thanksgiving?

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