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Abbas’ Fatah party averse to direct peace talks with Israel
Loading ...Palestinian officials in President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party expressed reluctance on Friday to move from indirect to direct negotiations with the right—leaning government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Washington’s envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, is in the region to push for direct peace talks, which the United States wants to launch before Israel’s partial, 10—month freeze on construction in West Bank settlements expires on September 26.
Mr. Netanyahu indicated in Washington last week that he does not intend to extend the moratorium.
Mr. Mitchell met with Mr. Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Friday. He will then undertake the short drive to the nearby West Bank city of Ramallah for talks with the Palestinian leadership on Saturday.
The envoy has thus far mediated several rounds of indirect negotiations, since a sceptical and reluctant Mr. Abbas agreed to the talks in the spring despite the absence of a full construction freeze that also includes East Jerusalem.
Mr. Abbas’ Fatah party said it opposes the start of direct talks until there is progress made in the indirect talks on the key negotiating issues of borders and security — a position also strongly held by Mr. Abbas himself.
Continue Reading at The Hindu.
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