BICOM

Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni met with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday in the Jordanian capital Amman to discuss the future of the peace process. Livni led a delegation of senior Kadima members, which included Roni Baron, Tzahi Hanegbi and Haim Ramon.  

Livni stressed to Abbas that the PA must return to negotiations soon and that unilateral actions would not bring an end to the conflict. “Do not let the extremist Islamist forces stream over you as well,” said Livni. “The Middle East is changing and the stalemate serves the extremists who are exploiting the conflict on the Arab street.” Referring to talks between Fatah and Hamas, Livni said that the Islamist organisation must not be allowed to advance its own agenda.

Abbas gave his commitment to Livni that even if there were a new Palestinian government, following the reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas, such a government would remain obligated to the two-state solution, the renunciation of violence, and previously signed agreements. “The Palestinian reconciliation is a supreme interest and the Palestinian government that will be formed will be comprised of professionals that are identified with neither with Fatah nor Hamas,” said Abbas. 

According to Palestinian officials present in the meeting, Abbas also reiterated to Livni his insistence that without an Israeli freeze on settlement construction, there will not be a peace talks. Abbas also rejected her claims that seeking United Nations membership was a unilateral move, saying that the move was important for the two-state solution and the peace process in general.

According to the Jerusalem Post, a senior government official responded to the meeting by saying that while it was “very nice” that Abbas agreed to meet with the head of the opposition, “the problem is that he is refusing to meet with the prime minister and the government of Israel.”

In a separate development, Haaretz reports this morning, that the PA recently provided representatives of the Middle East Quartet with a new proposal on borders for a Palestinian state and security arrangements. According to the report, Israel has so far not provided a counterproposal, insisting that arrangements should be presented in the framework of direct negotiations.