It would be Mr. Abbas’s first visit to Israel for an official meeting with a member of the Israeli government for years.
Le Monde with AFP
The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz discussed Tuesday, December 28 in the evening of “security and economy” during a meeting held, according to the Israeli press, in Israel, a first for years.
“I met tonight [Tuesday] The President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. We discussed the implementation of economic and civil measures, and the importance of strengthening our safe coordination (.. .) “, wrote on Twitter M. Gantz , shortly after the announcement by his ministry with Mr. Abbas.
Palestinian side, the Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein Al-Sheikh, a near Mahmoud Abbas, said on Twitter that this meeting had focused on “security, economic and humanitarian” issues on “tensions” related to activities Israeli settlers in busy West Bank and the importance of creating a political horizon “to reach a” solution “of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Israeli Defense Minister and the Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs did not specify the place of this meeting, however, according to the Israeli press, in the residence of Mr. Gantz located in Rosh Haayin, in the center of Israel.
LiKoud denounces “dangerous concessions”
In the wake of the arrival in June of the coalition government led by Naftali Bennett, Israeli ministers, including Benny Gantz, visited Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. But it would be the first time since 2010 that Mr. Abbas goes to Israel for an official meeting with a member of the Israeli government.
The Likoud Party of the Leader of the Opposition Benyamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of 2009 to last June and virulent critic of the Palestinian President, condemned in a statement this meeting Abbas-Gantz who resulted in him on ” Dangerous concessions for the safety of Israel “The Government of Naftali Bennett, moreover supported by an Arab party, a first in the history of Israel,” handed over the Palestinians and Abbas on the agenda and that is dangerous for Israel, “added the right party.
The Abbas-Gantz meeting intervenes less than a week after the visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank of the American Security Advisor Jake Sullivan who had discussed with Mahmoud Abbas of “the recovery of a significant level of help. economic and development “from the United States.
The current Israeli government says wanting to discuss the ways “to improve” the standard of living of the Palestinians, without yet seeking to embark on a new round of talks. The peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians have been in a way since 2014. The Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a former leader of the Proconion Movement in the West Bank, opposes the creation of a Palestinian state.