During his visit to Cyprus, the president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas said he is ready for talks with Israel's new government.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that he hoped the election of a new Israeli government would allow for the resumption of peace talks.
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During a meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia, Abbas asked Cyprus to mediate the efforts.
"For many years now, we have been extending a hand to the Israeli side in order to achieve peace with them, so that Israel and Palestine may live in security, stability and peace," Abbas said.
"We hope that, immediately after a new Israeli government is formed, we will be able to engage in dialogue together," he added.
Christodoulides said Abbas' visit comes at an "important moment" for the region.
"How can we work together, always through a positive approach? To create conditions of security and stability in the region. Of course, we are also at Palestine’s disposal, so that we may play whatever role they deem necessary for the Republic of Cyprus, in order to achieve our common goals," Christodoulides said.
Later during a working lunch attended by delegations from both sides, Abbas' highlighted the importance of Cyprus' role.
"I will not dwell on the excellent relationship that exists between the Palestinian people and the Cypriot people and the Republic of Cyprus, but you also have excellent relations—and rightly so—with Israel," Abbas said.
"So you can play a role in mediating between the two sides, based on a political solution that is grounded in international law and the resolutions of the Security Council and the United Nations," he concluded.