LOC11:55
08:55 GMT
GAZA, Jan 3 (KUNA) -- The Israeli media is reporting that Israeli officials and authorities refused to consider official Palestinian documents regarding the Palestinian position on crucial issues, and this coincides with statements by Knesset officials warning of a new more ferocious war in the Middle East.
Maariv paper Monday said Israeli officials would not review or respond to the documents, and would note even prepare documents representing the Israeli position on the issues addressed.
The paper also pointed out that this contradicts statements by Israeli Premier Benyamin Netanyahu stressing Israel was ready to discuss all core issues with the Palestinians.
Most recently, Netanyahu yesterday said he was to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss these issues behind closed doors, but the Israeli premiership later said there would be no such meeting.
Meanwhile, Radio Israel this morning quoted Chairman of Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Shaul Mofaz saying the Israeli government was leading the country on a path of confrontation, adding this new war in the Middle East would be more ferocious and costly than previous spats.
The cabinet, he added, was not acting based on a "governing" strategy, but rather out of a strategy for survival.
This comes while leaked Wikileaks documents suggest the Israeli Army is conducting maneuvers and training for a new war in the Middle East. One document indicates that the Israeli Chief of Staff had informed a Congress delegation back in late 2009 that the country was preparing for wide-scale war in the Middle East, most probably against Hamas in Gaza Strip or Lebanese Hezbollah.(end) mzt.wsa KUNA 031155 Jan 11NNNN