Prosor: We're ready to renew talks 'tomorrow morning'
UN envoy says Israel ready to restart negotiations with Palestinians, after Netanyahu, Abbas each claim willingness to meet on sidelines of General Assembly in NY.
By JPOST.COM STAFFAmbassador to the United Nations Ron Prosor 311(photo credit: Shahar Azran)
After both Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas expressed willingness to meet each other in New York, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor called on Tuesday for a renewal of negotiations without preconditions as soon as "tomorrow morning."Prosor told Army Radio that efforts to thwart unilateral measures "that don't contribute to peace," are ongoing in New York, where Abbas arrived Monday to bring the question of Palestinian statehood before the UN Security Council.RELATED:Israel warns PA its UN bid could impact economic aidIDF readies gestures to minimize violence after UN bidAnalysis: UN statehood and Durban III part of ‘one-two punch'The Israeli envoy added that Israel's mission to the UN needed more help in carrying out its important task. "We need to give more resources and manpower to those standing on the diplomatic front."
Abbas met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday in New York and informed him of the Palestinian intention to apply for UN membership.Netanyahu, who is scheduled to fly to New York late Tuesday evening, is slated to meet with Ban on Wednesday, a few hours after the prime minister meets with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the General Assembly meeting.On Monday night Netanyahu called on Abbas to begin negotiations with him in New York that would continue in Jerusalem and Ramallah.Netanyahu’s comments came in response to a filmed statement Abbas made on his plane to New York, saying “I’m ready to meet with [Netanyahu] at any time.”No Netanyahu-Abbas meeting is currently scheduled during Netanyahu’s five-day trip to New York.The Quartet on Middle East peace mediators met for the second straight day on
Monday night in new York, with a US official telling reporters that efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been productive and should continue.Herb Keinon contributed to this report.Click for full Jpost coverage
