In a meeting with Meretz head Yossi Beilin, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that he would not negotiate with Hamas until Hamas agrees to “erase all signs of the overthrow” in Gaza. He said that in the meantime Hamas should be treated as an illegitimate power.
Abbas told Beilin that he plans to call early PA elections, but did not give a date. He also told Beilin that he would not run for reelection when his term ends in a year and a half.