“In this framework we do not oppose holding the meeting [.] between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu under the aegis of Russian Federation”.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering an offer by Russian President Vladimir Putin to host Moscow talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Netanyahu’s office said on Monday.
On Sunday, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop held meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Speaking during a press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, Abbas said that “President Putin has proposed a meeting on September 9 in Moscow”.
Russia’s deputy foreign minister and peace envoy to the Middle East told a Palestinian delegation in Ramallah on Tuesday that proposed talks in Moscow had been called off, a senior Palestinian official told Middle East Eye.
Despite the reported collapse of the talks, Bodganov struck an optimistic tone with the press following his meeting with the Palestinian delegation on Tuesday, saying that work continues on “the date, form and content of the meeting”.
“The real question is whether Abu Mazen (Abbas) is willing to meet us without preconditions and we are hearing conflicting reports on that”, Netanyahu said, speaking in Hebrew. “We can not allow ourselves another 50 years of governments’ indecision, during which decisions are made every day on the ground”, the founders of the initiatives say. Asked about Abbas’ claim that he postponed a meeting in Moscow, Netanyahu said he was prepared to meet Abbas at any time for direct talks without preconditions. Just yesterday, Palestinian spokesmen made it clear that they are willing to meet, but have conditions – the release of prisoners and they also want to know the outcome of the talks in advance. The two men last met for seven hours in 2009.
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If a meeting were to take place, it would reflect the growing Russian influence in the Middle East. It is one of several worldwide initiatives, including a French plan to host an global peace conference and Egyptian offers to bring the sides together as well.
