Russia Tried To Organize Palestinian-Israeli Leaders' Summit Twice - Palestinian Official

Russia has attempted to arrange a historic summit between the leaders of Palestine and Israel twice, but each time the plans were derailed by the refusal of the Israelis, Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian presidential adviser and former prime minister, told Sputnik.

RAMALLAH (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th September, 2018) Russia has attempted to arrange a historic summit between the leaders of Palestine and Israel twice, but each time the plans were derailed by the refusal of the Israelis, Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian presidential adviser and former prime minister, told Sputnik.

In June, Palestine's Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal told Sputnik that Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas would be ready to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Moscow, as both officials had been invited to attend the final game of the football World Cup.

"Twice, not only this time. There was a time before that. Mr.Netanyahu kept saying I am willing to do it when he thought that Mr.

Abbas would not accept it. But the moment Mr.Abbas accepted it his excuse the time was not appropriate, I have internal problems, maybe we will do it some other time. When Russia repeated that during the Championship he said no," Shaath said.

For decades, Israel has been in conflict with the Palestinians, who have been seeking diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which are partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government refuses to recognize Palestine as an independent political and diplomatic entity and continues to build settlements in the occupied areas, despite objections from the United Nations.