WEST BANK: Israel must stop settlement activity before direct talks can resume, says Palestinian Chief negotiator

Record ID: 561882

  • Title: WEST BANK: Israel must stop settlement activity before direct talks can resume, says Palestinian Chief negotiator
  • Date: 11th August 2010
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (AUGUST 10, 2010) (REUTERS) CONVOY OF U.S. ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, GEORGE MITCHELL, ARRIVING AT PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAEB EREKAT AND U.S. ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST GEORGE MITCHELL WALKING TOWARDS MICROPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAEB EREKAT SAYING: "I cannot say that we have an agreement but we had an in-depth, constructive and serious discussions, ideas were exchanged. Once again, we are not against direct negotiations, we want to resume direct negotiations. And we believe that the key to direct negotiations is in the hand of the Israeli government. The minute they accept their obligations and stop settlement activities and the terms of reference of two state on (the borders) 1967, with agreed territorial swap, I think we can begin direct negotiations immediately." PALESTINIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST GEORGE MITCHELL SAYING: "We are continuing our efforts despite the difficulties and obstacles that we faced in the past and which we know we will face in the future because we believe that it is so much in the interest of all the people in the region." SECURITY MAN PALESTINIAN FLAG ON ROOF OF COMPOUND
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2010 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVA8I3QRQ7G5YSMKZY85XY4YWTWJ
  • Story Text: Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told reporters in Ramallah, West Bank on Tuesday (August 10) that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had held "constructive and serious talks" with U.S. peace envoy George Mitchell but there was no agreement yet on a direct negotiations with Israel.
    Erekat said Israel had to stop settlement activity if Palestinians were to agree to a resumption of direct talks with Israelis.
    "The key to direct negotiations is in the hand of the Israeli government. The minute they accept their obligations and stop settlement activities and the terms of reference of two state on (the borders) 1967, with agreed territorial swap, I think we can begin direct negotiations immediately," Erekat said.
    In a brief statement after the talks, Mitchell said: "We are continuing our efforts despite the difficulties and obstacles that we faced in the past and which we know we will face in the future because we believe that it is so much in the interest of all the people in the region," he said.
    Palestinian sources said Abbas could agree to face-to-face peace talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "within days", provided he received political backing for the controversial move from major powers.
    Such a move by Abbas might further diminishing his own dwindling popularity among Palestinians.
    The stalled peace process resumed in May after an 18-month hiatus, but only at the level of indirect "proximity talks", in which Mitchell acts as a shuttling, third-party diplomat.
    Netanyahu he is ready to sit down to talks immediately.
    Mitchell was due to see Netanyahu on Wednesday (August 11) morning.
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