“Together we signed the Oslo Accords and I am writing to you as a colleague:” Do not give up “- said Peres. Israeli President Shimon Peres appealed publicly to the President Mahmoud Abbas with a call not to leave the post of the head of the Palestinian National Authority.

Mr. Abbas’s decision, heading the Palestinian Authority for five years, not to participate in January elections, was considered by Peres as the crisis caused by the U.S. as well as Israel, and for the overcoming of the crisis it is required the earliest possible resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

“Together we signed the Oslo Accords and I appeal to you as a colleague: “Do not give up ” - said the president at a ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Perez, who was then the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Abbas, representing the Palestine Liberation Organization, were among those who in 1993 signed the Oslo Accords on establishing Palestinian self-rule and the beginning of negotiations on a final settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

“I know how much the Palestinian people have suffered for the previous half a century … Knowing my people and the government, I tell you that Israel wants real peace. Maybe next year will bring the Palestinian people to independence. The next year will be decisive, it depends on you and us “- said Perez.