Russia's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have agreed in principle to meet in Moscow, Interfax news agency reported. No official Israeli source has corroborated the report at this time. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow has heard from the offices of both Abbas and Netanyahu that the two agreed to meet, though it is unclear when that will happen. Zakharova said that "the most important thing is to pick the right timing." The comments indicated that Russia was pushing forward with its efforts to host the meeting. Abbas said this week that a meeting scheduled in Moscow had been postponed at Israel's request. Earlier this week, Abbas said he would be prepared to return to the negotiating table with Israel over a final-status agreement only on the condition that Israel committed to meet its obligations, including halting all settlement construction; suspending plans for any new illegal outposts and settlements; and releasing Palestinian prisoners it agreed to release prior to the cancellation of the previous round of talks.
Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that he is willing to meet with the Palestinian leader anytime, without preconditions.
Abbas and Netanyahu exchanged a brief handshake last year at a global climate change conference in Paris but have not held a public working meeting since 2010.
Report: PM Netanyahu, PA leader Abbas to meet in Moscow
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirms that Israeli and Palestinian leaders will meet in Russian capital, stresses that "the most important thing is to pick the right timing" • No date has been set for the meeting.
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