Palestine, January 21, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - Israeli President Shimon Peres warned Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that continuing the impasse in negotiations with Israel could lead to a third intifada. He added that "in delaying, Abbas is playing with fire."

On Sunday, Peres told Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store about his discussions with Abbas.

Store told Peres that Israel should take more steps to support Abbas. "Abu Mazen [Abbas] is vulnerable and feels hurt, and his position needs to be bolstered by American support," Store said, adding: "You have the best psychologists ... How do we read the personality and political mind of Abu Mazen? What will make him move?"

Peres updated him on his meetings with Abbas and PA Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat. Peres said he told Abbas at one point that "postponing peace negotiations is playing with fire. He says that he has time. (But) something will happen to start an intifada and the two sides will have lost an opportunity."

Peres said he told Abbas "to be reasonable, and once negotiations are started, then is the time to work out solutions."

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had invited Netanyahu and Abbas to a summit in Cairo to renew talks, Peres told Store.

Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell is scheduled to meet in Ramallah on Thursday with Abbas and Fatah-backed Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Mitchell will continue to try to urge Abbas to renew talks with Israel and to persuade Netanyahu to give more concessions to the Palestinians.