Israel's defence minister on Thursday accused the Palestinian president of trying to spark a fresh conflict between the state and Abbas's longtime rivals Hamas in Gaza, Middle East Eye reports.
Avigdor Lieberman said Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Fatah movement that rules the occupied West Bank, was trying to increase tensions by cutting payments for electricity and other services in Gaza.
"Abu Mazen didn't make a one-time cut," Lieberman told the annual Herzilya security conference near Tel Aviv, referring to Abbas by his nickname.
"His intention is actually to continue cuts and in a few months to stop paying for fuel, medicines, salaries and many other things. In my opinion the strategy is to hurt Hamas and also to drag Hamas into a conflict with Israel," he added.
