Bethlehem – Ma'an – Fatah Central Committee member Muhammad Dahlan cast doubt on the benefits of resuming peace talks between the PLO and Israel after reports that US-mediated "proximity talks" could start on Sunday.

"There is no benefit from either direct or indirect negotiations with the Israeli government as it continues settlement construction and attacks the holy sites of Palestine," Dahlan said in an interview on Thursday.

On Wednesday the Arab League gave its blessing to renewed peace negotiations at the request of President Mahmoud Abbas. US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who offered to shuttle between the two sides in the talks is expected in the region within days. US Vice President Joe Biden is also scheduled to visit on Monday.

Dahlan's comments indicate a split within Abbas' own party on the decision to resume talks with Israel.

If the American policy is to "waste time pretending we are in negotiations" as Israel continues to build settlements and claim Palestinian heritage sites, Dahlan said, there is no point to go ahead with the talks.

"We have been sick of the occupation for years, and sick of negotiations since 2000," he said, referring to the start of the Second Intifada following civil unrest around a failure of the Oslo Accords.

Also on Thursday, Hamas condemned the bid to restart negotiations as an act of betrayal.

Gaza's deputy Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) speaker Ahmad Bahar said a return to talks before Palestinian unity is achieved would be tantamount to "eliminating national rights," and would not be recognized by Palestinians.

"Returning to the negotiations is a violation of the promises President Mahmoud Abbas made, he vowed to not return to negotiations until settlement construction freezes," Bahar said. "Returning to negotiations under any pretext amidst settlement expansion and the violation of our holy sites gives official cover to the occupation to continue the siege, settlement construction and assaults on Palestinians."

Bahar said he would hold Abbas and the Fatah party responsibly for the national and historic consequences that returning top peace talks would bring, and called on the Arab League to step in immediately and review its decision to "bless negotiations with the occupation."