Abbas rejects plea by Kerry to halt international treaty applications
Official quotes Abbas: "Israel scares no one. They can do what they want."
By JPOST.COM STAFFUS Secretary of State John Kerry and PA President Mahmoud Abbas meeting in Ramallah, January 4, 2013.(photo credit: REUTERS/Brendan Smialowski/Pool)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas rejected an appeal from US Secretary of State John Kerry to halt applications to join several international organizations, AFP reported on Friday.The report quoted a Palestinian official who stated that Kerry had made the appeal to try and s salvage peace talks with Israel which.According to the AFP report, Kerry sternly warned Abbas that Israel was threatening a strong response to the Palestinian move.Abbas reportedly shrugged off the cautionary words saying, "Israel scares no one. They can do what they want."Israel Justice Minister chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, told Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday that Israel will not go through with a fourth prisoner release because of the Palestinian decision to apply for admission to international bodies.The fourth prisoner release had been scheduled for last Saturday but had been delayed by Israel until the PA gave assurances of continuing negotiations.
