Netanyahu and Abbas to meet in Moscow for talks
The Israeli and Palestinian leaders have 'in principle' agreed to attend in peace talks, for their first meeting in six years
The Israeli and the Palestinian leaders have agreed “in principle” to meet in Moscow for talks in what the Russians hope will relaunch the Mideast peace process after more than a two-year break.
The comments indicate that Russia is pushing forward with its attempt to become a peace broker after a setback earlier in the week. On Tuesday, the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, said a meeting scheduled in Moscow this week had been delayed at Israel’s request.
While bringing the men together would represent an accomplishment for Moscow, a diplomatic breakthrough seems unlikely.
Mr Abbas and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu remain far apart on key issues, and their differences have prevented meaningful talks since Mr Netanyahu took office in 2009.
The last round of peace talks broke down two-and-a-half years ago, with no progress reported during months of negotiations brokered by the United States.
The Palestinian leader has demanded that Israel halt settlement construction on occupied lands claimed by the Palestinians and carry out a prisoner release that was promised during the last round of talks.
Mr Netanyahu has rejected the terms and said the meeting should take place without conditions.
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu had accepted an invitation to meet in the Russian capital, but a date has not been set yet.
There also was no word on whether the two had settled on an agenda for the meeting – the key stumbling block in preparations.
“The most important thing is to pick the right timing,” Ms Zakharova told reporters. “Intensive contacts on this are ongoing.”
During a visit to Poland on Tuesday, Mr Abbas said a meeting in Moscow had been scheduled this week, but that Israel had delayed it at the last minute. Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu exchanged a brief handshake last year at a global climate change conference in Paris but have not held a public working meeting since 2010.
“If the Palestinian Authority can say with one voice that they are willing to meet without preconditions, then Prime Minister Netanyahu will meet President Abbas,” said the Israeli leader’s spokesman, David Keyes.
If a meeting takes place, the chances for substantial progress would seem slim.
The Palestinians seek to establish an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem – territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. While the Palestinian claims have wide international backing, Mr Netanyahu has refused to use Israel’s pre-1967 lines as a basis for border talks, retreating from positions adopted by his predecessors.
The Palestinians have accused Israel’s hard-line government of seeking a “peace process” as a diplomatic shield against international criticism. The Netanyahu government has tried to discredit Mr Abbas, accusing him of anti-Israel incitement and alleging he is not a partner for a peace deal.
If a meeting were to take place, it would reflect the growing Russian influence in the Middle East. The Russian military has sent fighter jets to Syria to back Syrian President Bashar Assad in his battle against various rebel groups. Israel, while largely staying out of the war, maintains close contact with the Russians to avoid any clashes between the two countries’ air forces along the border with Syria.
Russia’s offer in recent weeks to host the Israeli and Palestinian leaders is one of several international initiatives, including a French plan to hold an international peace conference and Egyptian offers to bring the sides together as well.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
