Tel Aviv (ANN)-Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is the sole peace partner for his country, Yedioth Ahronoth has reported. Abbas, confirmed Olmert, is trusted by the Israeli security services.
“Abu Mazen’s [Abbas’s] security cooperation with Israel has undermined terrorism against our citizens,” explained Olmert. “He is the only partner to achieve peace with us.”
According to the former prime minister, he was close to reaching a peace deal with the Palestinians before resigning after being charged with corruption and going to prison for 16 months.
Olmert said that current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not want to make peace with the Palestinians, stressing that he could not even implement the deal of the century as it stands. He added that Netanyahu is be unable to say that he supports the two state solution because his right-wing partners object to it.
Denying Netanyahu’s claims that he is an advisor for Benny Gantz, the head of Blue and White Party, Olmert pointed out that he is not affiliated to any political party.
Abbas and Olmert are expected to hold a joint press conference at the UN Security Council this week.
Source: Memo
