Obama and Abbas
Obama and AbbasIsrael news photo

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is sticking with his demands for a total halt to building for Jews but now says he is willing to settle for a three-month freeze in order to return to talks with Israel for a new PA state.

In an interview with the London Guardian, Abbas tried to resuscitate the American-led effort for a resumption of talks by making what in effect is a cosmetic change in his previous demand that Israel stop all building for Jews in eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. His interview won international media attention and represents another move in what has become a diplomatic chess game that now leaves Israel in the position of having to respond.

Abbas previously has rejected Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s 10-month temporary freeze that does not include eastern Jerusalem, although U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had called the Prime Minister’s offer “unprecedented.”

Abbas also used the interview to pronounce his opposition to “armed resistance” despite a recent escalation in shooting and rock attacks on Israelis. Evidence also has mounted that the PA is encouraging the weekly violent protests demonstrations at the separation barrier.

The PA chairman insisted that his demand that talks begin with an agreement for pre-determined PA borders is not a precondition but is part of what he said are requirements in the American Roadmap plan. "If they [Israelis] are not prepared to do that, it means they don't want a political solution,” Abbas said.

He warned that Israel’s refusal to surrender all of eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria would lead to a "one-state” solution whereby PA Arabs would threaten a Jewish majority.

Abbas also appeared to be warming up to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (pictured at left), saying that the terrorist organization now is “talking about peace and a truce with Israel” and is “not resisting." Abbas' term of office officially expired in January, but no elections have been held, one of the reasons being the impracticality of including the Hamas-run Gaza region in the ballot without reconciliation between it and the Fatah party.

Abbas, who is chairman of Fatah, denied previously published reports that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is providing support and training for PA forces arresting and torturing Hamas terrorists.