Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko, pool)
Early negotiations are currently underway to set up a tripartite meeting in Moscow between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Just one week after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced Russia’s willingness to host direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, negotiation teams are already working to prepare the groundwork for the meeting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to the talks and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has also reportedly expressed his willingness to participate.
Officials believe that Abbas prefers to hold talks in Moscow rather than Cairo because of al-Sisi’s attempt to push his own peace initiative at the cost of the French peace initiative. Abbas prefers the French initiative which gives the Palestinians a state of their own whether or not the negotiations are successful.
But Abbas has expressed unwillingness to enter into negotiations with Israel unless certain prerequisites are met. These include that Israel stop building in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, and to release all Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli officials stressed that “the prime minister is ready to hold direct negotiations with Mahmoud Abbas at any time.”
By: World Israel News Staff
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