Abbas: Palestinian Authority open to talks with Avigdor Liberman, if he ‘truly supports’ 2-state solution
Israel must recognize a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders for any negotiations to move forward, the Palestinian Authority said on Wednesday.
The PA issued its first remarks on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s affirmation late Monday that he is ready to hold peace talks based on a revised version of the 2002 Arab peace initiative.
“The Israeli statements regarding the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative must be accompanied by actions on the ground and recognition in an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 lines whose capital is east Jerusalem,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
“The Arab Peace Initiative is a part of a UN Security Council resolution and the road map for peace and it cannot be rejected when it is backed by the consensus of all the Arab and Islamic countries,” he added.
On Monday, shortly after new Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman took the oath, Netanyahu surprisingly declared that Israel is prepared to hold peace talks based on the Arab Peace Initiative.