(Haaretz).President Shimon Peres and lead Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat held a secret meeting last week in Jerusalem in an effort to ease the way toward a tripartite meeting at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23. That meeting would involve U.S. President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Palestinians have been unwilling to agree to such a meeting unless Israel's settlement freeze includes East Jerusalem.
For some weeks now, Peres has been trying to assist Netanyahu in his exchanges with the U.S. administration and also with senior figures in the PA, in order to get the peace negotiations back on track.
According to two political sources in Jerusalem and foreign diplomats, last week Peres invited Erekat to Jerusalem for talks. Abbas has made Erekat his point man for exchanges with Israel and the Americans.
Erekat's standing in the Palestinian hierarchy was upgraded after Abbas removed Ahmed Qureia from the position of chief negotiator several months ago, due to infighting within Fatah.If the negotiations are resumed in the near future, Erekat will lead the Palestinian negotiating team.
Erekat met with Peres at the President's Residence in Jerusalem for about two hours. Peres stressed, during the meeting, that every thing must be done to pave the way toward resumed negotiations by the end of the month.
"This opportunity must not be allowed to pass," Peres told the Palestinian negotiator. "I am asking that you tell Abu Mazen [Abbas] this. He needs to attend the meeting at the UN."
Peres acknowledged that "there may be differences on the subject of the settlements and other issues, but they will be resolved. The most important thing now is to renew the talks as soon as possible."
The Palestinians have been unwilling to agree to such a meeting unless Israel's settlement freeze includes East Jerusalem.
For some weeks now, Peres has been trying to assist Netanyahu in his exchanges with the U.S. administration and also with senior figures in the PA, in order to get the peace negotiations back on track.
According to two political sources in Jerusalem and foreign diplomats, last week Peres invited Erekat to Jerusalem for talks. Abbas has made Erekat his point man for exchanges with Israel and the Americans.
Erekat's standing in the Palestinian hierarchy was upgraded after Abbas removed Ahmed Qureia from the position of chief negotiator several months ago, due to infighting within Fatah.If the negotiations are resumed in the near future, Erekat will lead the Palestinian negotiating team.
Erekat met with Peres at the President's Residence in Jerusalem for about two hours. Peres stressed, during the meeting, that every thing must be done to pave the way toward resumed negotiations by the end of the month.
"This opportunity must not be allowed to pass," Peres told the Palestinian negotiator. "I am asking that you tell Abu Mazen [Abbas] this. He needs to attend the meeting at the UN."
Peres acknowledged that "there may be differences on the subject of the settlements and other issues, but they will be resolved. The most important thing now is to renew the talks as soon as possible."