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GAZA/RAMALLAH, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian opposition on Friday slammed President Mahmoud Abbas for joining the funeral of late former Israeli President Shimon Peres and shaking hand with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Earlier on Friday, Abbas, leading a high-ranking Palestinian delegation, arrived in Jerusalem and was received by Netanyahu and other Israeli and world leaders, who came to participate in the funeral of Peres who passed away earlier this week in the age of 93.
Abbas' participation in the funeral came upon an invitation from Peres' family, a senior official at Abbas office told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
Israeli radio and TV reported that Abbas and the Palestinian delegation were received by Netanyahu and his wife Sara.
The radio said that on the sidelines of the funeral, Abbas also met with former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was once Israel's chief peace negotiator with the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian state-run news agency (WAFA) reported that Abbas held talks with French President Francois Hollande, and both discussed the latest political developments in the region. The report said that Abbas expressed his appreciation for France's support for the Palestinians.
"President Hollande expressed to President Abbas the support of France to the Palestinian position that backs holding an international conference for peace in the Middle East before the end of this year," WAFA report said.
U.S. President Barak Obama also welcomed Abbas' participation in the funeral and considered it a reminder of the peace process that has not been yet accomplished in the Middle East.
Earlier in the day, Fatah Party defended Abbas' participation in Peres' funeral.
"President Abbas' participation in the funeral is a message of peace to the world," said Munir al-Jaghoub, a senior Fatah leader in the West Bank, in a statement.
Abbas, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, three other senior Palestinian security officials and Fatah leaders arrived in Jerusalem on Friday morning from Ramallah to join Peres' funeral.
"Joining the funeral is part of our president's responsibilities because the whole world is paying attention to the funeral and the participation stopped (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu from showing the Palestinians as terrorists," said Jaghoub.
Islamic Hamas movement and other Palestinian factions had earlier urged Abbas not to join the funeral, saying that "joining the funeral would be a humiliation to the blood of the Palestinian martyrs who were killed in Peres massacres."
Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza said in a statement that Abbas' participation in the funeral is "a despicable and a humiliating action and a disgrace on his forehead."
Sami Abu Zuhri, another spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, also condemned in a statement the condolences of Abbas for the death of Peres."
Hamas considers Abbas' condolences a disregard to the blood of the martyrs and the Palestinian people's suffering, he said, adding "the Palestinians feel comfortable that this criminal (Shimon Peres) had left."
"He (Peres) is the one who was behind the massacres in the Lebanese village of Qana and many other massacres and crimes against the Palestinian people," said Abu Zuhri.
The left-wing Palestinian group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) also slammed Abbas' participation in Peres' funeral.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians protested in Gaza.
On Wednesday, Abbas lauded Peres' efforts to make peace until the last moment of his life.
"He (Peres) exerted unremitting efforts to reach a permanent peace since Oslo agreement was signed with Israel in 1993 until the last moment in his life," Abbas said in a condolence letter he sent to Peres family.
