Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for first time in five years in Paris (but they get photobombed)

  • The momentous handshake was blocked by President of Comoros' head
  • Netanyahu and Abbas were put next to each other during a 'family photo'
  • All 151 world leaders gathered in Paris had a photograph taken together 
  • Israeli and Arab media insists the handshake doesn't indicate a resolve 
  • See the latest news updates on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 

By Imogen Calderwood For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A historic photograph of the leaders of Israel and Palestine shaking hands for the first time in five years was ruined by a presidential photobomber.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today at Paris' climate change summit.

They found themselves standing next to each other, as 151 of the world's leaders gathered together at the summit for a 'family picture'.

But another world leader, President Ikililou Dhoinine of Comoros, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, managed to block photographers' view of the moment they shook hands.

Historic: Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) talks with Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas during a family photo for the opening day of the World Climate Change Conference 2015. But President Ikililou Dhoinine of Comoros blocks the view of their momentous handshake

Historic: Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) talks with Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas during a family photo for the opening day of the World Climate Change Conference 2015. But President Ikililou Dhoinine of Comoros blocks the view of their momentous handshake

Reports in the Israeli and Arab press remain unimpressed by the handshake, which both nations' media agree did take place.

'The meeting was very brief, however – just a handshake and nothing more,' according to the Times of Israel.

According to the Jewish Press: 'It was a handshake and nothing more and nothing less. The meeting was more like two ships passing in the night but brushing along each other's sides by accident.'

According to Haaretz, the first handshake for five years 'does not attest to any improvement in relations between them'. 

Their meeting came amid heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. Over the past two months, almost daily Palestinian attacks have killed 19 Israelis and at least 92 Palestinians.

U.S. mediated peace talks between the two nations collapsed in April 2014, after nine months of fruitless meetings amid bitter recriminations and mutual blame, but the two leaders haven't met since 2010.

US Secretary of State John Kerry met Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Tuesday in Jerusalem and Ramallah but he left without a breakthrough and said he would continue to press both leaders on the issue in coming weeks.  

Tension: The leaders of the two nations locked in a bitter conflict found themselves placed next to each other during the group photograph at the Paris climate change summit

Tension: The leaders of the two nations locked in a bitter conflict found themselves placed next to each other during the group photograph at the Paris climate change summit

Resolve? Israeli and Arab media are unimpressed by the meeting, however, insisting it was like 'two ships passing in the night but brushing along each other's sides by accident'

Resolve? Israeli and Arab media are unimpressed by the meeting, however, insisting it was like 'two ships passing in the night but brushing along each other's sides by accident'

Some 151 of the world's leaders are in attendance at the Paris summit, which aims to reach a decision on how to wean the world off fossil fuels. 

Israel announced on Sunday that it will be suspending discussions of its conflict with the Palestinians with EU officials, in response to the 28-nation bloc's decision to label goods imported from Jewish settlements.

Prime Minister Netanyahu 'ordered suspension of diplomatic contacts with the institutions of the European Union and its representatives on this issue', according to the nation's foreign ministry.

It said the ban would be in force for the duration of a reassessment of the bloc's role in peace efforts.

But it went on to say that Israel would continue business as usual with national officials of European member states.

'It is important to make clear that Israel is maintaining diplomatic talks with individual European states – such as Germany, Britain and France – but not with the institutions of the European Union,' the statement continued.

Palestine Liberation Organisation official Saeb Erekat said the latest Israeli move was an attempt to coerce the EU into a U-turn on the labelling issue.

'Israel already stopped the peace process,' he said. 'The EU is our partner and we respect them.'

The statement said Netanyahu, who is also foreign minister, ordered the freeze in answer to the EU's November 11 decision to label settlement produce imported to Europe as such rather than 'Made in Israel'.

The same day, Israel said it was suspending various scheduled EU meetings in response to the labelling move, which it harshly condemned.

 

 

IsraelBenjamin NetanyahuPalestine

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