Ramallah – Ma'an – Caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Sunday that restoring credibility to the peace process is only attainable if Israel is forced to end violations of international law and resolutions, including the Road Map.

Fayyad's remarks were made during a meeting with a Dutch delegation, headed by the speaker of the Dutch parliament, Gerdi Verbeet.

He highlighted that the EU foreign ministers’ statement released on 8 December 2009 marked a serious opportunity to crystallize an international movement toward restoring credibility of the peace process. Furthermore, he added, a credible peace process can end the Israeli occupation and achieve a two-state solution only after Israel halts settlement activities, and all violations of international law, particularly in East Jerusalem.

Fayyad also stated the importance of exerting pressure on Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, to end the suffering of its residents. Once this is achieved, he said, the Palestinian Authority will be able to carry out its development plans and reconstruct Gaza, which has yet to be rebuilt following Israel's destructive war on Gaza in December 2008.