US-PA talks futile, thanks to Israeli settlements

Sat, 23 Jan 2010

US President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy failed to bring back the acting Palestinian Authority chief to the negotiating table with Israel due to Tel Aviv's refusal to halt settlement activities.

During a three-hour meeting with George Mitchell in Ramallah, Mahmoud Abbas reiterated calls for a complete halt to Israel's settlement construction as a precondition for the resumption of peace talks, Ynet reported.

According to chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, Israel's insistence on maintaining control over the Jordan Valley — which makes up 28% of the West Bank, has hindered the peace process.

Israel is also refusing to negotiate on the future of Jerusalem Al-Quds, claiming it was one of the conditions for Palestinian recognition of Israel as a "Jewish state," according to Erakat.

"All of these things have derailed President Obama's peace train," he added.

Mitchell, who will leave the region over the weekend, said Obama remains committed to trying to broker a Mideast deal, but that his next move remains unclear.

Tel Aviv has so far refused to heed international calls for a complete freeze in illegal settlement activities, which violate the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 446, 452 and 465.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116822§ionid=351020202.