'U.S. told Palestinian Authority, don't take Israel's Netanyahu seriously'

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FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU

Senior Palestinian official declares Obama's promises are 'what counts'

By Aaron Klein
© 2009 WorldNetDaily

JERUSALEM – The Palestinian Authority has received signs from the U.S. that it should not take seriously Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent major address, according to a top PA official speaking to WND.

Nimer Hamad, senior political adviser to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, also said the PA is not concerned about Netanyahu's policies since Abbas relies on American support for key Palestinian demands.

During Netanyahu's speech Sunday, the Israeli leader called for a demilitarized Palestinian state and said Jerusalem would always be united under Jewish sovereignty.

Hamad countered: "No matter what is the position of the Israeli government and no matter what are the statements of Netanyahu, what counts is what was promised to us by Obama, which is totally the opposite [of Netanyahu's positions]."

"We received encouraging signs from the Americans that we should not take seriously into consideration Netanyahu's speech," Hamad said.

Hamad said the Obama administration holds views that strongly differ from Netanyahu's.