Hamas lawmaker slams Mitchell's Mideast regional tour

An Islamic Hamas movement lawmaker slammed Friday U.S. peace envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell's visit to the region, saying it is a preamble for more concessions at the expense of the Palestinian cause.

Salah al-Bardawil, a Gaza Hamas lawmaker, said in a press statement that "Mitchell's visit to the region is a preamble for new Palestinian concessions to move forward the stalled so-called peace process."

"Hamas is afraid that Mitchell's visit to the region will enforce the Palestinian side to offer more concessions at the expense of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights," said al-Bardawil.

Mitchell will arrive at the region Saturday evening, where he will hold talks with Israeli government officials and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials in the West Bank.

"We look at Mitchell's visit and the U.S. role through our understanding of the Palestinian cause. Our philosophy is based on ending the Israeli occupation soon instead of pushing the stalled peace process," said al-Bardawil.

Mitchell would try again to pressure on the right-wing Israeli government to freeze construction in Israeli settlements, as Abbas and the Palestinians insist that there would be no resumption of peace talks until Israel halts all settlement activities.

U.S. President Barack Obama has been exerting efforts to resume the stalled Middle East peace process, in which the Israeli settlement activities are major obstacles for the resumption of the process.