Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned Sunday that the raging power-struggle between Palestinian factions must not deteriorate into civil war. Abbas spoke after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Egypt - his first high-level meeting with an Israeli official since Hamas took control of the Palestinian government in March.
"Civil war is the red line that nobody dares cross, no matter which side they are on ... Civil war is forbidden," Abbas said, according to the AP.
His comments came as Palestinian sources said they thawrted an assassination attempt of senior Gaza Strip security chief Rashid Abu Shbak, an Abbas loyalist. Security officials discovered a 154-pound roadside bomb shortly before Abu Shbak's motorcade was scheduled to pass through the area.
Abbas said he told Livni during the 45-minute meeting that Israel and the Palestinians must restore regular contact and work toward resuming peace talks.
Livni said the roadmap peace plan drawn up by the international community remained in force. The Israeli official also said the Hamas-led government must not gain world recognition. "It is a terrorist government, on the other hand we want to help the Palestinian people and not to punish them ... This was part of the discussion," she said.
She added Israel had decided to release $11 million in tax money it had collected on behalf of the Palestinians but was withholding.
Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres, who joined the talks, said he had spoken with Egyptian officials at the conference about "how to help the Palestinians get out of the difficult situation that they are in."
