Abbas warns Israel against taking unilateral steps

RAMALLAH, May 15 (Reuters) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today urged Hamas to renounce violence and respect peace deals, while also warning Israel that taking a unilateral approach to peace making would fuel extremism.

In a speech to mark the anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel, a day Palestinians call Nakba, or the great catastrophe, Abbas urged the militant Islamist movement Hamas to be pragmatic and embrace existing West Asia peace deals.

''We must not suffice with fiery speeches and slogans that could bring about international isolation,'' Abbas said, without referring directly to Hamas, which came to power in March.

Such speeches, he said, ''more dangerously make us fall into the trap that Israel wants, which is to reject to negotiate using the excuse that there is no Palestinian partner.'' Reuters SHB GC1500