PM ready to meet Abbas ‘without preconditions’

Netanyahu says he is willing “to meet with Abbas for direct talks without preconditions at any time,” hours after the Palestinian leader said the two were due to meet in Moscow on Friday, but that the meeting was called off when one of the Israeli PM’s aides sought to delay it.

Speaking from The Hague during a two-day visit to the Netherlands, Netanyahu says: “This is something I’ve said a hundred times and I will repeat here. I’m not choosy about the place — whether it’s here in the Netherlands or in Moscow is no problem. It could absolutely be in Moscow. I said as much to President Putin and I said it just yesterday to Russian envoy Bogdanov. ”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (L) shakes hands with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in The Hague on September 6, 2016. (AFP PHOTO/ANP/Robin UTRECHT)

Netanyahu added: “The main question is whether Abu Mazen [Abbas] is willing to meet without preconditions. We are hearing conflicting versions. Just yesterday, Palestinian spokesmen made it clear that they are willing to meet, but have conditions — the release of prisoners and they also want to know the outcome of the talks in advance. If Abbas wants to meet for direct talks without preconditions I’m ready at any time. I have been calling for this for seven years, and if he agrees to it there will be a meeting.”