Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister accuses PA of incitement

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister has accused the Palestinian Authority of “incitement” against Israel. Speaking to Israel Radio, Ofir Akunis suggested that Israel’s chief negotiator, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, should postpone her meeting with the Palestinian side scheduled for Thursday until the seven-day mourning period for police Chief Superintendent Baruch Mizrahi ends. The Israel Defence Forces veteran was shot and killed in Hebron on Monday whilst driving to an illegal settlement.

Akunis criticised Knesset members from the Israeli Labour and Meretz parties who met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during this sensitive period and reaffirmed his opposition to the two-state solution. MK Nitzan Horowitz of Meretz rejected Akunis’s criticism, saying that the negotiations with the Palestinians have been void of any substance to-date. Horowitz stressed the need to discuss substantive issues if the negotiating process continues and to fight incitement by Palestinians and Israelis alike.