Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected a package of Israeli goodwill gestures designed to coax the Palestinian leader back to peace talks, where further Israeli concessions would be discussed. A Palestinian official told Xinhua that the Israeli confidence-building measures – which included the release of security prisoners and programs designed to bolster Abbas – were insufficient for President Abbas to resume talks:

“What Israel offers in terms of releasing a limited number of prisoners and increasing the Palestinian National Authority (PNA)’ s influence in the West Bank is not enough for President Abbas to accept returning to the negotiating table,” the official added.

Abbas reportedly conveyed as much to Secretary of State John Kerry last Friday, during the U.S. official’s fifth peace process-related visit to the region. Abbas has imposed a series of additional preconditions he demands be fulfilled by Israel before the Palestinian leader will agree to return to peace talks.

Meanwhile, following an all-night meeting with Kerry, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet that he was ready to move forward with negotiations immediately:

“Israel is ready to begin negotiations without delay, without pre-conditions. We are not putting up any impediments on the resumption of the permanent talks and a peace agreement between us and the Palestinians. There are things that we will strongly insist on in the talks themselves, especially security. We will not compromise on security and there will be no agreement that will endanger Israelis’ security,” he said.

A poll released Friday showed that a majority of Israelis also back the resumption of peace talks.

[Photo: RogDel / Wiki Commons]