Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian Authority (PA) is ready to hold direct dialogue with Israel, under international sponsorship.
Erekat, who is also Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) Executive Committee, made his comments during a telephone call with Russia’s deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.
In a press statement on Saturday, Erekat said they discussed the situation in the Palestinian territories and a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, based on international laws.
He said they also tackled launching direct dialogue with the help of the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators, comprised of the US, EU, Russia and the UN.
The PA is looking hoping for a greater Russian role in the peace process.
Palestinian officials told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Palestinian leadership supports any Russian move to revive the political process.
PLO Executive Committee member Wasel Abu Youssef said the leadership looks forward to, supports and trusts the role Russia can play in kicking off the process that can end the Israeli occupation.
The leadership sees in Russia an active member of the international mechanism, which should substitute the US-sponsored settlement process, he added.
The PA wants to find an alternative international mechanism for the US role, similar to that of the “P5 + 1” group, which reached the Iranian nuclear deal in 2015.
Palestinians had previously proposed launching an international peace conference, which would come up with an international mechanism, in which the Quartet, including the United States, and European and Arab states, consisting of five or seven states, participate under the UN umbrella.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas has tried to convince France of his initiative, but he received a lukewarm response from French President Emmanuel Macron, in contrast to his predecessor, Francois Hollande, who launched a two-phase conference in 2016 and 2017.
Abbas has also personally worked to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin wield his influence in the region to launch an international peace conference.
