Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow on Wednesday, telling his guest that the Kremlin still hoped for a resumption of negotiations between Israel and the PA. Abbas thanked his host and said the PA hoped to improve cooperation with Russia to address regional issues. Elsewhere, a poll was released on Wednesday by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) showing that 55% of Palestinians in the West Bank and 68% in the Gaza Strip no longer support a two-state solution which would recognize Israel and instead want their leaders to “work toward reclaiming all of historic Palestine, from the river to the sea.” Another poll result showed that many of those who do still support a two-state solution view it merely as “part of a ‘program of stages’ to liberate all of historic Palestine later.” Read More
