Netanyahu: I hope Trump-Abbas meeting will bring about a change
'I'm always ready for genuine peace,' prime minister says in meeting with Romanian counterpart Sorin Grindeanu a day after the US president met with the Palestinian leader; 'I heard President Abbas say that Palestinians teach their children peace. That’s unfortunately not true,' Netanyahu adds.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he hoped US President Donald Trump's meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will "achieve a change" that would allow Israelis and Palestinians to "pursue a genuine peace."
"This is something Israel is always ready for. I’m always ready for genuine peace," Netanyahu said during a meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu. "I look forward to discussing with President Trump the best ways to advance peace. This is something we fervently share with the president."
The Israeli prime minister, however, once again criticized the Palestinian leader, saying "I heard President Abbas yesterday say that they teach, Palestinians teach their children peace. That’s unfortunately not true. They name their schools after mass murderers of Israelis and they pay terrorists."
During their White House meeting on Wednesday, Trump and Abbas discussed the need to reach a peace agreement. Trump vowed he will "do whatever is necessary," being a "mediator, an arbitrator or a facilitator" to reach a deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
In his own speech, Abbas focused on specific demands that the Palestinian Authority will be sticking to in talks with Israel: namely, that Israel returns to its 1967 borders, ends the 50-year "occupation" and that a two-state solution be considered with east Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
"I believe that we are capable under your leadership and under your courageous stewardship and your wisdom as well as your great negotiating ability ... I believe we can be partners—true partners to you—to bring about a historic peace treaty," Abbas said. "Now, Mr. President, with you we have hope."
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