Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says he will not meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Moscow, AFP reports.
Abbas’s denial comes after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who is currently in Israel and met yesterday with Netanyahu, tells the Russian media that “contacts are in progress” for a summit in Moscow.
“Vigorous efforts [are being made] in all directions,” Bogdanov said.
The statement from the PA president also follows a denial of such a meeting by a PA official, who told The Times of Israel yesterday that Ramallah has yet to receive a response from Israel regarding Palestinian preconditions for talks — a commitment to a settlement freeze and the release of prisoners. These preconditions, the source said, would have to be met before any direct meeting between Abbas and Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s office said yesterday that “he is always ready to meet with President Abbas directly and without preconditions.”
Watch Docu Nation Season 2: Resilience
when you join the ToI Community
Support The Times of Israel's independent journalism and receive access to our documentary series, Docu Nation: Resilience, premiering December 12.
In this season of Docu Nation, you can stream eight outstanding Israeli documentaries with English subtitles and then join a live online discussion with the filmmakers. The selected films show how resilience, hope, and growth can emerge from crisis.
When you watch Docu Nation, you’re also supporting Israeli creators at a time when it’s increasingly difficult for them to share their work globally.
To learn more about Docu Nation: Resilience, click here.
Support ToI and get Docu Nation
Support ToI and get Docu Nation
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this