A senior Palestinian Authority official Monday said Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu scuttled a secret meeting last week meant to head off a looming diplomatic showdown at the United Nations.
Yasser Abed Rabbo told reporters Israeli president Shimon Peres asked PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas to meet to discuss PA plans to seek recognition of their independence in September.
Rabbo, whose comments come a week after abject denials by Israeli officials such a meeting was in the works, said Peres promised to bring creative ideas for defusing the crisis, including setting borders along pre-1967 lines.
Abed Rabbo says Abbas traveled to neighboring Jordan for the secret meeting last Thursday, but at the last minute Peres called to cancel, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposed the meeting.
Netanyahu, However, called reports that he stopped President Shimon Peres en route to Jordan for talks with Abbas "incorrect."
"Peres acts in full coordination with me – we meet before any trip, and he updates me after," the prime minister said.
Netanyahu also denied that Peres discussed pre-1967 lines as a basis for negotiations with Abbas.
"Peres acts in full coordination with me – we meet before any trip, and he updates me after," the prime minister said.
Netanyahu also denied that Peres discussed pre-1967 lines as a basis for negotiations with Abbas.
Israel is working to build a "moral minority" of what it describes as "key states" to oppose the PA statehood bid in September. The US has said it will veto the PA move if it is brought to the Security Council.