PA to Obama: Put a stop to PM's blatant peace refusal

Abbas spokesman calls for US pressure on Netanyahu to return to "real" peace process; issues to be decided in talks, not press statements.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
mahmoud abbas_311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
mahmoud abbas_311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the United States to put pressure on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with regards to the peace process, following Netanyahu's meeting with US President Barack Obama on Friday.
Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said, “the US administration has to put a stop to Netanyahu’s blatant refusal to enter into a real peace process and a permanent one based on the two-state solution," official Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA reported.
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The statement came after Netanyahu told Obama at the White House that Israel rejects the US president's call for Israel to return to pre-1967 borders, which he laid out in a speech the day before.
Addressing Netanyahu's rejection of '67 borders, Abu Redeineh said, “These statements are an official declaration that he is not ready for true peace based on justice and international resolutions."
Regarding the prime minister's statement following the Obama meeting about refugees, Abu Redeineh said the issue should be settled in negotiations, not in press statements.
The Abbas spokesman also rejected foreign criticism of the recent Fatah-Hamas unity deal, which has been criticized by Israel and the West, who classify Hamas as a terrorist organization. The Palestinian government, he said, is "an independent government that has nothing to do with Fatah or Hamas and its program is that of President Mahmoud Abbas.”
 “What Netanyahu is saying are excuses to avoid sitting at the negotiating table,” he added.