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Israeli president: Abbas "a real partner for peace"

03 November 2012 20:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Israeli President Shimon Peres on Saturday exalted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling him a "real partner for peace", APA reports quoting Xinhua

Peres’ kind words to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) president were prompted by an interview of Abbas with Channel 2 news on Friday, in which Abbas called to resume peace talks with Israel and negated any type of violence as legitimate in the conflict with Israel.

During the interview, Abbas utterly denounced all kinds of terrorist acts and violence, stressing that there won’t be another intifada (violent rising) or use of "violence or weapons," and that the Palestinians are striving for a peaceful, diplomatic solution.

He reiterated the PNA’s commitment to the two-state solution according to the 1967 lines and said he is ready to immediately resume peace talks with Israel, which came to a halt in 2010 due to Israel’s expansion of the West Bank settlements.

Abbas also condemned the rocket attacks by Gazan militants toward southern Israel, and said there is "no justification" for them.

"These are significant words," Peres said in a statement sent to Xinhua, "We must treat them with the utmost respect. These positions stand exactly in line with those of Israel and with the clear majority of the population, which supports the solution of two states for two peoples."

Peres added that Abbas’ words were "brave and important," and said he had confirmed his eligibility as a true partner for peace "through his deeds and his words."

"Israel is a country that seeks peace, and as such we must stretch out our hand for peace to a leader like him... He rejects terrorism and won’t allow the outbreak of a violent third intifada. His words are courageous... There is a real hope for peace," he concluded.

However, during the Friday night interview, Abbas also criticized Israel mainly for its expansion of West Bank settlements.

"Is this a unilateral move?" Abbas charged, referring to the PNA’s bid for UN status upgrade. "What about what Israel is doing, as it continues to build the settlements; these are unilateral steps, along with the deportation of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank," he added.

Earlier this week, the Israeli NGO Peace Now, which monitors illegal construction in the settlements, notified that there are two new illegal outposts, Nahlei Tal, northwest of Ramallah, and North Tzofim, in central Samaria region.

Peace Now claimed in its report that the settlements’ erection was assisted by the Israeli government, as there is infrastructure, electricity, running water and paved roads on the premises.

Two weeks ago, the Israeli housing and construction ministry announced the marketing of 5,000 new housing units nationwide, nearly 700 of which were in a controversial area beyond the 1967 lines.

The announcement came just several days after the European Union (EU) denounced Israel for building in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo.

Last month, Abbas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of single-handedly torpedoing peacemaking efforts by avoiding direct negotiations based on a two-state solution.

In the past few months, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who is Netanyahu’s wingman in a united list running together in the upcoming January elections, has slammed Abbas once and again, saying he is not a real partner for peace, which the PNA condemned repeatedly.