JERUSALEM, Nov 4: Israel’s Nobel laureate President was at loggerheads with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the two leaders stood differed in their views over an interview given by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in which he shunned violence against Israel.
Shimon Peres praised his PA counterpart after his remarks during the interview to Israel’s Channel 2 assuring no outbreak of a third intifada during his tenure, Netanyahu, largely expected to return to power in January 22 snap polls, rejected it as hollow words that “do not match his actions”.
Abbas had said that as long as he remains in power, he will not allow a third intifada to break out.
He said that although he is a refugee from Safed (north Israel), he does not intend to return to the city as a resident. If anything, he would visit the place as a tourist.
“Palestine for me is the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital, this is Palestine, I am a refugee, I live in Ramallah, the West Bank and Gaza is Palestine, everything else is Israel,” he said in the interview on Thursday.
Channel 2’s political correspondent Udi Segal, who interviewed the Palestinian leader, separately tweeted quoting Abbas as saying: “We will not go back to terrorism and violence. We will only operate through diplomacy and through peaceful means.”
Israel’s President responded to Abbas’ statements saying: “His brave words prove that Abu Mazen (nom de guerre for Abbas) is a real partner for peace.” (PTI)
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