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According to reports Peres and Abbas discussed the stalled Israel-PA diplomatic process and possible ways to revive negotiations. It is not known whether Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was aware the meeting would take place before Peres departed for Italy.
Israeli presidents fill a ceremonial role and are expected to remain aloof from controversial or partisan issues like the peace process. Despite this it came to light in April that Peres and Abbas have maintained contacts away from the limelight in which they continue to pursue back-channel talks.
It was secret negotiations between then-Defense Minister Shimon Peres and PLO chairman Yassir Arafat behind Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin's back that resulted in the disastrous Oslo Accords and creation of the Palestinian Authority.
Officials at the president's office refused to reveal details of the Peres-Abbas meeting in hopes of keeping them away away from the press - and Israeli public - and refused to confirm whether the two spoke alone, but diplomatic sources hinted that such conversation indeed took place.
According to reports Peres and Abbas discussed the stalled Israel-PA diplomatic process and possible ways to revive negotiations. It is not known whether Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was aware the meeting would take place before Peres departed for Italy.
Israeli presidents fill a ceremonial role and are expected to remain aloof from controversial or partisan issues like the peace process. Despite this it came to light in April that Peres and Abbas have maintained contacts away from the limelight in which they continue to pursue back-channel talks.
It was secret negotiations between then-Defense Minister Shimon Peres and PLO chairman Yassir Arafat behind Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin's back that resulted in the disastrous Oslo Accords and creation of the Palestinian Authority.
Officials at the president's office refused to reveal details of the Peres-Abbas meeting in hopes of keeping them away away from the press - and Israeli public - and refused to confirm whether the two spoke alone, but diplomatic sources hinted that such conversation indeed took place.