Yaalon Says Abbas 'Not a Partner for Peace'

Zionist regime’s war Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Saturday said Acting Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is "not a partner for a final peace deal," adding that Zionist regime must retain a presence in West Bank.

The Zionist regime’s defense (war) minister told Channel 2 "if we won't be in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), Hamas will rise up there in place of Abbas." "I supported (the) Oslo (Accords)," Ya'alon said.

"Today too I believe human life takes precedent to land, but I found the conflict is on all of Palestine, they don't recognize our right to exist here. It's impossible to reach an agreement with the Palestinians without recognition of the Jewish state."

The topic of recognition has been key, as Abbas has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Kerry said last Thursday Israel's insistence on recognition is a "mistake."

 Ya'alon accused Abbas of "going back on the Oslo trick, without recognition or promises."

Abbas is set to meet US President Barack Obama on Monday in Washington DC. Abbas "is a partner for receiving, not giving," charged Yaalon. "

He is not a partner for a final agreement that would include the recognition of Israel as the national state of the Jewish people and that would end the conflict and all claims."