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Palestine to do everything for success of peaceful talks with Israel

Mahmoud Abbas says, negotiators should overcome “certain difficulties"
Photo EPA/JAMAL NASRALLAH
Photo EPA/JAMAL NASRALLAH

UNITED NATIONS, September 25 (Itar-Tass) - Palestine will make every effort for the success of direct talks with Israel, head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday at a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, which took place at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

According to Abbas, the negotiators should overcome “certain difficulties,” but the Palestinians are interested in the continuation of the negotiating process. “We will make every possible effort for the negotiations’ success. We understand that we will face difficulties, but we’ll do everything in our power to overcome them,” said the PNA head.

Earlier Tuesday, Obama from UN General Assembly’s rostrum called on the international community to support the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, who “have demonstrated a willingness to take significant political risks. President Abbas has put aside efforts to shortcut the pursuit of peace and come to the negotiating table. Prime Minister Netanyahu has released Palestinian prisoners and reaffirmed his commitment to a Palestinian state. Current talks are focused on final status issues of borders and security, refugees and Jerusalem.” The US president is expected next week to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.

Direct talks between Israel and Palestine resumed in Washington in late July after a three-year interval caused by the refusal of the authorities of the Jewish State to stop building settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.