 Riyad al-Malki |
The Palestinian Authority foreign minister warns of the forming of an 'anti-peace' Israeli government that would stifle future Middle East talks.
"It is very clear from what we have heard, and from what we expect, that we are going to see a far-right Israeli government, an anti-peace government," Riyad al-Malki said at the start of negotiations with European Union officials in Brussels.
"And if that is the case, all efforts and all expectations for the renewal of negotiations between Israel and Palestine will be totally wasted," Malki warned.
The Palestinian minister urged international diplomatic pressure on the next government in Tel Aviv, voicing concerns that if Israeli hawks take power, there will be no Israeli side in negotiations.
The comments follow the reopening of coalition talks between Israel's right-wing Likud party and the conservative Kadima party.
Israel's President Shimon Peres mandated Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next cabinet despite the fact that his party won 27 seats - one seat shy of Kadima - in the Knesset (Israeli parliament).
Peres decided that Netanyahu stood a better chance of patching together a coalition by an early April deadline, given that Kadima leader Tzipi Livini once failed to form a coalition government late last year.
To enter a government with Likud, Kadima has reportedly required a rotation of the prime minister post between Foreign Minister Livni, and former premier Benjamin Netanyahu -- who does not believe a Palestinian state could be created in the short run.
Malki was in Brussels for talks with Egyptian and EU mediators, aimed to end the disputes between the two main Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah, as well as forging a permanent peace deal with Israel.
"And if that is the case, all efforts and all expectations for the renewal of negotiations between Israel and Palestine will be totally wasted," Malki warned.
The Palestinian minister urged international diplomatic pressure on the next government in Tel Aviv, voicing concerns that if Israeli hawks take power, there will be no Israeli side in negotiations.
The comments follow the reopening of coalition talks between Israel's right-wing Likud party and the conservative Kadima party.
Israel's President Shimon Peres mandated Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next cabinet despite the fact that his party won 27 seats - one seat shy of Kadima - in the Knesset (Israeli parliament).
Peres decided that Netanyahu stood a better chance of patching together a coalition by an early April deadline, given that Kadima leader Tzipi Livini once failed to form a coalition government late last year.
To enter a government with Likud, Kadima has reportedly required a rotation of the prime minister post between Foreign Minister Livni, and former premier Benjamin Netanyahu -- who does not believe a Palestinian state could be created in the short run.
Malki was in Brussels for talks with Egyptian and EU mediators, aimed to end the disputes between the two main Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah, as well as forging a permanent peace deal with Israel.
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