Israel Matzav

Abu Mazen denies 'secret back channel' with Netanyahu

The 'Palestinian Authority' is denying the existence of a 'secret back channel' for talks between Prime Minister Netanyahu and  'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen. The channel's existence was first broken by Yedioth Aharonoth on Thursday. This is from the first link.

The reports, which elicited denials from Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeina, according to Judea Samaria-based Arab Ma'an News Agency, argue that Netanyahu's delegate Attorney Yitzhak Molcho has been meeting with an associate of Abbas in London for secret talks.

"This back-channel diplomacy includes an exchange of messages and ideas and is aimed at solving problems troubling both sides," according to the report. "Both Netanyahu and Abbas kept the talks confidential in order to avoid political pressure."

The report indicates that the resumption of peace talks under US Secretary of State John Kerry made the secret channel of communication superfluous, "likely prompting Netanyahu to inform some of the Israelis and Americans involved in the talks about the back channel."

I'd bet on the back channel existing, particularly since Tzipi Livni was placed in charge of the 'peace talks' last year.

Labels: Abu Mazen, Binyamin Netanyahu, Middle East peace process, Tzipi Livni, Yitzchak Molho

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:01 PM