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Abbas is ready to accept invitation to sit with Netanyahu, aide says

February 28, 2019 at 10:21 am

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) during the funeral of former Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on 30 September, 2016 [Amos Ben Gershom/Reuters]

Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas is ready to accept an invitation for trilateral meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his official spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said yesterday.

Commenting on Netanyahu’s remarks that there is no Palestinian partner for peace and if there was one he would sit with him for talks, Abu Rudeineh said this is “absolutely untrue.”

Such remarks were made on the eve of Netanyahu’s trip to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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“Abbas has previously accepted an invitation by President Putin for a meeting with Netanyahu, but Netanyahu evaded this meeting,” Abu Rudeineh said.

He stressed that Abbas has been and will always be ready to accept Putin’s invitation for such a meeting any time “whether with the current prime minister or any Israeli prime minister for the sake of achieving just and sustainable peace.”