Abbas threatens to give West Bank back to Israel

Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to dismantle the authority and hand over the keys of the West Bank to Israel, should Israel not halt settlement plans and if no progress is achieved in peace negotiations following the Israeli elections slated for January 22. “If there is no progress even after the election I will take the phone and call [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu,” Abbas said. “I'll tell him, ‘my dear friend, Mr Netanyahu, I am inviting you to the Muqata [the PA presidential headquarters in Ramallah]. Sit in the chair here instead of me, take the keys, and you will be responsible for the Palestinian Authority,’” Abbas told Israeli daily Haaretz in an interview published Thursday. “Once the new government in Israel is in place, Netanyahu will have to decide - yes or no,” Abbas added.