JERUSALEM (JTA) — Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Israeli political party Yesh Atid, barred five party lawmakers from a West Bank meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The lawmakers, members of a Knesset caucus for making peace between Israel and the Palestinians, withdrew their acceptance of the invitation from Abbas, according to Haaretz. Abbas had asked them to Ramallah for a toast in honor of Rosh Hashanah.
Lapid ordered the lawmakers to withdraw because the meeting could prejudice the work of the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams in renewed peace talks, according to reports. The teams have met three times in the last three weeks.
Abbas’ invitation came after a good-will meeting held last month at the Knesset attended by Israeli lawmakers and Palestinian representatives chosen by Abbas.
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