BICOM

Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot reported that a clandestine dialogue had taken place for years in London between representatives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

The report claims that Netanyahu’s adviser Yitzchak Molcho, who is a key member of Israel’s negotiating team in current peace talks, travelled periodically to London to meet with a Palestinian counterpart, who Yediot Ahronot speculates may have been Bassil Akel, a London-based Palestinian businessman known to be a friend of Abbas. According to the article, “This back-channel diplomacy includes an exchange of messages and ideas and is aimed at solving problems troubling both sides.” Apparently, the dialogue had a dual purpose to both deal with everyday problems and to lay the foundations for a diplomatic breakthrough.

The report notes that the alleged talks were particularly significant while there were no official peace talks and during this time, “Both Netanyahu and Abbas kept the talks confidential in order to avoid political pressure.” Negotiations between Israel and the PA resumed in July following determined effort from US Secretary of State John Kerry. Although the talks have yet to produce a significant breakthrough, their continuation has meant that the London-based secret channel has become almost obsolete, according to the report.

Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the story. Meanwhile, Abbas’ spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeina denied the veracity of the report, telling the Palestinian Ma’an news agency that “there had not been any secret talks between Abbas and Israeli officials.”