Senior Palestinian Official Dismisses Israeli Interest in Peace as ‘PR Stunt’

Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, on Tuesday rejected statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman voicing support for the Arab peace Initiative, saying it was merely a public relations stunt designed to distract the world’s attention from what he termed as Israel’s “continued settler-colonial policies and rejectionist positions.”

Netanyahu on Monday partially endorsed an Arab Peace Initiative, offering to negotiate with the Arab world regarding the parameters of the plan, which promises Israel full diplomatic ties with 57 Arab and Muslim states in return for concluding a peace accord with the Palestinians.

Israel Radio quoted a statement from Erekat’s office which described the Israeli position adopted by Liberman, who he called Israel “war minister,” and Netanyahu as “new public relations strategies promoted by the occupying government to shield Israel from having to adhere to the will of the international community and distract from its continued settler-colonial policies and rejectionist positions.”

Erekat, who is entrusted by the Palestinian Authority with the peace negotiations with Israel, is notorious for his anti-Israel rhetoric, and has recently equated Israel with the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group.

By: United with Israel Staff

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