Abbas calls Rivlin ahead of departure, expresses hope for peace 'as soon as possible'
Rivlin's seven-year term as president ends on July 7 when Isaac Herzog is sworn in
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday spoke on the phone with outgoing Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, according to a statement released by Abbas's office in Ramallah.
“During the phone call, the president expressed his hope that peace between the two sides would be achieved as soon as possible,” the statement said, adding that Rivlin thanked Abbas for the call.
Rivlin's seven-year term as president will end on July 7 when Isaac Herzog is sworn in at the Knesset (Israel Parliament) as the 11th president of the Jewish state.
During a recent farewell tour of the United States, Rivlin appealed to Abbas to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"We are not condemned to live together, we are destined to live together," Rivlin said before various United Nations ambassadors at UN headquarters in New York.
"It is up to us to end the conflict. Let us forget the past. Let us build confidence. There are possibilities to ensure a bright future for our people," he insisted.
It not clear however how much sway Abbas has over the Palestinian people in terms of making peace with Israel as a recent poll suggests a dramatic increase in Palestinian support for Hamas following the Gaza-based terrorist group's conflict with Israel and a corresponding steep decline in Palestinian support for Abbas.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh would beat Abbas if they were the only two contenders in a presidential election, according to respondents, with a majority 53 percent saying that Hamas is the “most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people,” compared to just 14 percent for Fatah under Abbas.