Reaffirming the PA stance on conditions ahead of direct talks, PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said Tuesday that Israel must realize a halt to settlement construction.
"Israel must fulfill the terms of the peace process," Erekat said, hours after media reports announced the construction of 32 new settlement homes in East Jerusalem.
Though Palestinian negotiators decided to go ahead of proximity talks despite declarations that Israel's 10-month partial construction freeze in some West Bank settlements came nowhere close to fulfilling the demand, Erekat said the PA would stand firm on the issue in the face of pressure to move to direct talks.
Erekat said the US administration had been informed of the PA stance, reiterating the demand for a total halt to settlement construction on occupied lands taken by Israel in 1967.
The reaffirmation, Erekat explained, was necessary in light of the request of US President Barack Obama, made officially during a recent phone call with President Mahmoud Abbas, that US-mediated talks move to the direct discussion phase, following months of proximity talks lead by US Middle East Envoy George Mitchell.
On Sunday, Abbas explained that “We hope to make progress that will enable us to launch serious negotiations leading to a two-state solution before it is too late."
Mitchell was scheduled to return to the region on Saturday, Erekat said, adding that the PA hoped he would return with a package of guarantees so talks could move forward.
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