BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister restated Israel’s commitment to peace with the Palestinians following President Trump’s meeting with Mahmoud Abbas in Washington on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he “fervently shares” US President Donald Trump’s commitment to advancing peace. He said: “I hope that it’s possible to achieve a change and to pursue a genuine peace. This is something Israel is always ready for.”

Netanyahu’s statement was in response to comments made by PA President Mahmoud Abbas during the joint press conference with President Trump in Washington on Wednesday. Abbas claimed that “we are raising our youth, our children and our grandchildren on a culture of peace,” prompting Netanyahu to point out that the PA “name their schools after mass murderers of Israelis and they pay terrorists”.

Deputy Foreign Minister and Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely agreed with the Prime Minister, saying: “Abu Mazen arrived in Washington as he continues to transfer money to the families of terrorists. It’s clear to anyone who is intelligent that Abu Mazen isn’t interested in peace.”

Former Foreign Minister and Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni declared her opposition to payments to the families of Palestinians terrorists, but said that Netanyahu could take “dramatic” steps and pass a peace deal and that there is sufficient support from both Trump and the Israeli Knesset.

Omer Barlev, a candidate for leadership of the Labour party, offered Netanyahu the support of his party for any measures he would need to take in moving forward with the peace process.

The official Palestinian news agenct Wafa quoted Abbas expressing his “deep appreciation” to Trump after “constructive and in-depth talks that represented a promising start for peace during the Trump administration”.