Defense Minister Benny Gantz called yesterday on the Palestinian leadership to return to the negotiating table. The Knesset convened on Tuesday for a five-hour debate ahead of approving the normalization agreement with Bahrain. Addressing the Israeli parliament on that occasion, Gantz said that the Abraham Accords changed past paradigms, where the Palestinians blocked Israel’s path to the Arab world.

"Instead of [being on] a collision course with the Arab world and many other countries, we are on a course for partnership with moderate forces against those who wish us harm, headed by Iran. Instead of unilateral annexation, which would have weakened us in the face of our most extremist enemies, we are marking today an alliance that bolsters our security," said Gantz.

Further into his speech, Gantz addressed the Palestinian leadership and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas directly. "The Abraham Accords can expand to additional countries in the region, but it is just as important that they trickle to our close neighbors — the Palestinians. Unfortunately, the Palestinian leadership has not understood that it is time to put away the excuses, return to the negotiating table and work together to find a solution. I call on Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership — if not for yourselves, do it for your children. They, the future generation, deserve a future of peace and well-being."

In the same spirit, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said at the same Knesset plenary that "the conversation around the region changed from one of annexation to one of peace and normalization in the region."