Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday told Israeli reporters in Ramallah that he tried to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, but that Netanyahu’s camp ultimately stopped responding, according to Israeli media.
Abbas said he agreed that two senior officials from each side would make the preparations for the summit, but says that since that point, the Israeli side has not been in contact.
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Abbas summoned the Israeli reporters in order to address the Israeli public directly, and denied charges that he and the PA have been inciting against Israel.
“I don’t incite, contrary to what Israeli cabinet ministers are saying, ” Abbas said. “I call on them to show me where exactly am I inciting.” JPost reports and added that Abbas defended the PA’s decision to pay salaries to families of Palestinians prisoners and “martyrs, ” saying this was the “law and culture.” Abbas added: “It’s my duty to look after every prisoner.”
Abbas said he was opposed to all acts of terrorism and bloodshed. But, he added, “Let’s not forget that the wave of violence is the result of the absence of a political horizon and peace process, ” as reported by Channel 2.
Abbas reiterated his support for a “non-violent popular resistance.” He called upon Palestinians to refrain from violence during protests.
“I hear that you are saying that I incite against Israel, ” Abbas continued. “I don’t incite, in contrast to the claims of the Israeli ministers. I call on them to show me where exactly I incited.”
According to Abbas, all Palestinian factions want the current wave of violence to be non-violent. “Unfortunately, however, the violence is reaching Israel and children are being shot, ” he said.
The Prime Minister’s Office quickly denied the claim. “he (Abbas) has already claimed this in the past, and we denied it. …It isn’t correct. This is an attempt by Abbas to evade his responsibility for the absence of negotiations. Even today in Davos Netanyahu called on Abbas to return to negotiations without preconditions.”
