Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas began talks with Hamas officials on Monday on forming a Hamas-led government which he said should recognize past peace deals with Israel and seek statehood through non-violence. Hamas, an Islamic group dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state, launched coalition negotiations earlier in the day with other militant factions but was swiftly rebuffed by Islamic Jihad, which vowed to press on its fight with Israel. Hamas officials said they expected Abbas to ask the group’s choice for prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, to put together a government. Full Story