Xinhua
June 29, 2010 - 12:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-06/29/c_13375623.htm


Moving to direct talks with Israel requires reaching an agreement on the issues of security, borders and full freeze of settlement activities, a Palestinian official said on Tuesday.

"These are our demands," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio. "Even U.S. President Barack Obama is aware of this."

He also denied reports that the United States is pressing for jumping to final-status negotiations and holding a three-way summit comprising Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Washington next month.

In May, the Palestinians and the Israelis went for indirect proximity talks under a U.S. umbrella. The talks, scheduled to last four months, are meant to pave the way for the resumption of the stalled direct, final-status negotiations.

Erekat also warned against Israel's practices in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their future capital, saying "such acts will definitely undermine peacemaking."

"Settlement expansion in Jerusalem, demolitions of Arab houses and the new policy of expulsion must stop. This will destroy peace efforts," he proclaimed.




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