Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas have agreed to hold a three-way summit meeting Tuesday with United States President Barack Obama. Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, held several meetings with both Netanyahu and Abbas last week in an attempt to convince both to attend the meeting.
Obama plans to meet separately with Netanyahu and Abbas before bringing the two together for a joint discussion. The meetings will take place during the United Nations General Assembly.
PA officials confirmed the meeting, but warned that Abbas's willingness to meet Netanyahu did not signify the resumption of negotiations with Israel. Abbas will not speak with Israeli leaders unless Israel freezes construction in all Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, as well as much of Jerusalem, they said.
Hamas's head in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, warned Sunday that if Abbas were to make promises to Netanyahu or Obama, they would not be binding. Abbas's commitments are invalid and “it won't bind the Palestinian people,” he said in a speech given in Gaza City.
Netanyahu also warned that the meeting with Abbas did not mean talks with the PA would resume. He reiterated his willingness to begin negotiating with Abbas with no preconditions.