Abbas-Mofaz meeting not confirmed

The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank reported that the planned Sunday meeting between Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Israeli vice prime minister, Shaul Mofaz, was not confirmed, adding that should such a meeting take, it would be for explaining stances, exchanging opinions, and not a resumption of peace talks. Several media outlets reported that Abbas and Mofaz will be holding a meeting in the central West Bank city of Ramallah this coming Sunday. Nimir Hammad, a political advisor to Abbas, told the official Palestine News & Info Agency (WAFA), that it remains unknown whether Mofaz, should the meeting take place, will be submitting a letter from the Israeli government, or “will be merely be expressing his own opinions regarding the resumption of peace talks”. Hammad added that Abbas met, and is holding meetings, with different Israeli figures, and that such meetings are only meant to present the Palestinian stances and demands, and that such meetings “have nothing to do with peace talks”. Although Palestinian and Israeli officials held several meetings in a number of countries, including meetings held, among other places, in Amman – Jordan, the Palestinian Authority said that it will not agree to the resumption of peace talks as long as Israel is ongoing with its violations, invasions, and its ongoing illegal settlement construction and expansion activities in and around occupied East Jerusalem, as well as other parts of the occupied West Bank. The Hamas movement, as well as other factions, repeatedly criticized the P.A in the West Bank for holding talks with Israeli officials, and considered these talks as secret peace talks despite Israel’s ongoing violations.