"The rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip will not begin until Israel lifts the siege," said Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Thursday during a meeting in Ramallah with representatives of the International Monetary Fund. Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk, meanwhile, added that the indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians over a diplomatic arrangement for Gaza and for a long-term cease-fire agreement will commence in Cairo at the end of the month. According to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, he is willing to transfer control of the PA to Hamas, if the terrorist group wins future elections. "I need to rest," said Abbas, "I will distance myself from the presidency, but I will not distance myself from the Palestinian issue." In the meantime, the Palestinians are continuing diplomatic efforts to secure a nine-vote majority among the 15 member states in the U.N. Security Council, over a Palestinian proposal demanding that the council present Israel with a November 2016 deadline for withdrawing from the West Bank. Senior Palestine Liberation Organization officials said seven member states have agreed to vote in favor of the proposal, and that the thrust of the diplomatic effort is now geared toward gaining assurances from Luxembourg and France. A U.S. official said envoys from the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia will meet in Brussels on Oct. 24 to discuss the latest developments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Associated Press reported. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because there has been no official announcement. The so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators last met in New York in September 2013. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman met with Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini, who has also been appointed as the next EU High Representative for foreign affairs. Lieberman discussed the concern in Israel that EU policy would follow the tidal wave of support for recognition of a Palestinian state, which has been discussed in Sweden, Great Britain and Russia recently. "A solution will be found only through direct negotiations between the sides. External political decisions and unilateral recognition outside of the negotiation framework will only sabotage reaching a solution," Lieberman said. The two also discussed the Iranian nuclear threat and the campaign against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
'Rehabilitation of Gaza will not begin until Israel lifts siege'
Palestinian Authority PM Rami Hamdallah makes statement during meeting with International Monetary Fund representatives • Abbas says willing to cede control to Hamas if it wins future elections • Mideast Quartet to convene in Brussels on Oct. 24.
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