RAMALLAH: Mohammad Shtayyeh, A senior Fatah official, has announced that the Palestinian government is ready to resume negotiations with Israel provided they stop building illegal settlements and release Palestinian prisoners, reports Ma'an News. The comments came from the central committee of Fatah in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he planned to resume negotiations with the Palestinians three months after forming a coalition government. Netanyahu is currently having trouble coming to a final deal on a coalition government. The problems arose after a deal between Likud and Tzipi Livni's newly formed Hatnuah party. This trouble has led to open discussion of the possibility of Netanyahu being unable to form a coalition government. Should this happen, the task would be appointed to newcomer Yair Lapid and his centrist Yesh Atid party. “I'm not sure I'll be in the coalition. I might lead the opposition. Netanyahu will impose financial cutbacks that will hurt the middle class. In a year and a half, I'll replace him. That's what my advisers think, too" Lapid told Channel 2 news. Lapid maintains that he is a champion of the Israeli middle class, portrays himself as somewhat of a hawk when it comes to security and has declared his desire for peace with Palestinians. If a coalition escapes Netanyahu, another election must take place. Recent opinion polls show that the Prime Minister's already weakened Likud party is still losing ground. BN
