RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- PLO official Saeb Erekat said Tuesday that President Mahmoud Abbas insisted Palestinians are ready to return to negotiations if Israel commits to Quartet requirements, in a conversation with US President Barack Obama.
Obama called Abbas on Monday to assure him of the US commitment to Middle East peace, the White House said, in their first conversation since meeting in New York as the US vetoed Abbas' bid for Palestinian statehood at the UN six months ago.
Abbas told Obama that Palestine will return to talks if Israel fulfills the request of the Middle East Quartet to submit their proposal on borders and security, Erekat said in comments to official radio Voice of Palestine.
Israeli and Palestinian delegates met for five rounds of exploratory talks in Jordan during January, after the Quartet of international negotiators -- the US, UN, Russia and EU -- called for proposals by the end of the month.
Palestinian envoys said they gave their briefs in early January, but Israel had not presented a serious proposal during the talks.
They also refer to Israel's continued expansion of Jewish-only settlements on land needed for a viable Palestinian state.
After talks ended without agreement, Abbas is preparing to send a letter to Israel and the international community outlining the basis for a Palestinian state and reiterating demands Israel stop settlement building.
Erekat said Abbas briefed Obama on the letter, which will outline his position that Israel is responsible for the failure of the peace process. Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Tuesday that Obama urged Abbas not to include a threat to dismantle the Palestinian Authority in the communique.
Abbas also discussed the deal reached with Hamas in Doha last month to establish an interim government to oversee new elections. The agreement has since stalled, with outrage in Hamas ranks that Abbas will lead the unity cabinet.
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