But other attendees were less satisfied with Abbas’s answers on specific issues. Pressed repeatedly by Council of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations Chairman Alan Solow and others, Abbas didn’t directly answer the question of why he wouldn’t simply accede to Netanyahu’s demand for direct talks.
Abbas blamed the hold-up in talks on the White House, noting that they had raised the issue of settlements: “They are the ones who requested for the Israelis to stop settlements, what do you expect of me? Less than them?” he was quoted saying in paraphrase.
Abbas also didn’t offer specifics on what he was doing to prepare his own people for peace with Israel, a source said, and — JTA reports — pressed for a new mechanism to monitor “incitement” on both sides.
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