Settlement construction (Illustration)
Photo: AP
US: Settlement freeze must continue
State Department declines comment on PLO threat to suspend talks over Israel refusal to extend settlement construction moratorium; calls on Arab League to support talks, says it remains committed to achieving Mideast peace
WASHINGTON – The United States on Saturday welcomed the Arab League's decision to postpone its conference by four days, thus allowing it to continue its efforts to prevent the Israeli-Palestinian peace process from coming to an abrupt end.
While the administration had no official comment on the PLO's threat to suspend the direct peace talks, a deadlock for which the Palestinians hold Israel – and its refusal to extend the moratorium on settlement construction – responsible for, a source in the State Department said Washington believes other Arab nations "play a vital part" in the peace process.
Impasse
Reuters and Ali Waked
PLO executive committee calls on Mahmoud Abbas to suspend direct negotiations if settlement construction resumed though Palestinians still open to US solutions
The State Department believes that the West Bank settlement construction freeze must continue, said the source. Special US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell has remained in the area in order to try and convince both Israel and the PA to resume negotiations.
He is also travelling the region, trying to garner Arab League member nations' support for a League resolution preventing an irreparable impasse.
"We will continue our efforts," said the DC source. "We know this was a tough mission, but we are determined to achieve a comprehensive, viable peace in the Middle East."
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