Wasel Abu Yousef: Netanyahu's talks about Abbas meeting in Moscow, an attempt to thwart the French initiative

Wasel Abu Youssef, PLO Executive Committee member, told Anadolu news agency, that any meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in Moscow must be preceded other steps by Israel in order to ensure its success. For example the ceasing of Israeli settlements and the release of detainees arrested before Oslo Accords 1993.

Abu Youssef also stated his suspicion that the suggested meeting is an attempt by Netanyahu to thwart the French initiative.

Abu Yousef added, that Netanyahu is trying to thwart the planned international conference to be held in Paris for resolving the Palestinian issue, while at the same time give the impression that there are political talks with the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that he is considering a Russian offer to meet with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow.