JERUSALEM (JTA) — Mahmoud Abbas said Israel’s new prime minister does not believe in peace.
The Palestinian Authority president spoke to several news services on Tuesday and Wednesday about Israel’s 32nd government, led by the leader of the right-wing Likud Party, Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Benjamin Netanyahu never believed in a two-state solution or accepted signed agreements, and does not want to stop settlement activity. This is obvious," the French news agency AFP quoted Abbas as telling the official Palestinian news agency.
Abbas called on the world to pressure Netanyahu to live up to Israel’s responsibilities to the Palestinians, including halting settlement construction.
Abbas made similar comments to the BBC Arabic, the Jerusalem Post reported.
