Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday he is willing to meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu while the two are in New York.
Abbas, already in New York preparing to make his statehood bid to the United Nations on Friday, made the comments in an exclusive interview with Fox News, during which he said he has not given up on negotiations with Israel.
“I will meet any Israeli official any time,” said Abbas, “but there is no use if there is nothing tangible.”
The PA Chairman also explained his insistence on going to the UN to ask for recognition of a Palestinian state, saying he felt the route of negotiations with Israel had been exhausted.
“I felt there is no way for negotiations because the American administration including President Obama exhausted their efforts to bring Netanyahu to the negotiating table,” said Abbas. “They couldn't convince him to cease the settlement activities.”
Abbas also had a message for Obama in the interview: “You promised me a state by September 2011. I hope you will deliver.”
The West has been trying to dissuade Abbas from going through with his statehood bid, but despite having admitted that he is facing “huge pressure,” Abbas clarified earlier on Monday he intends to go through with his statehood bid. He has previously said that recognition of a Palestinian state will not affect talks with Israel.
Meanwhile on Monday, Netanyahu called on Abbas to meet with him while the two are in New York.
“I call on the chairman of the PA to begin direct negotiations in New York that will continue in Jerusalem and Ramallah,” Netanyahu said. “I suggest that Abbas start negotiations for peace instead of wasting time on useless unilateral steps.”
Netanyahu will arrive in New York on Wednesday, where he will deliver a speech to the UN in which he plans to proclaim Israel’s truth to whomever ןs interested in hearing it.