PA: No talks on borders while settlements eating up territory

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat was not optimistic Friday about the Obama administration's shift in its Mideast peace strategy, stepping up pressure on Israel and the Palestinians to resume stalled talks by first taking on the tough issues of borders for a Palestinian state and the status of Jerusalem.

"You cannot have discussions on borders while the territory you want to set up your state on is being eaten up by the settlements," Erekat said. "We are awaiting the arrival of Senator Mitchell, and we hope the US administration will go on the path of the end game. What we need are decisions now on the end game, on the borders," he said. (AP)