Erekat: US-Israeli decision on freeze in 3 weeks
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat tells al-Sharq al-Awsat PA expecting answer from US on additional settlement construction freeze. 'We are at end of game,' he says. 'The choice is Netanyahu's – either peace or settlements'
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian Authority has given the US "two to three weeks" to persuade Israel to continue a moratorium on construction in West Bank settlements.
"We are at the end of the game," he said. "It's time to make some tough decisions."
Erekat told the London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat in an interview published Saturday that no further good could come of peace talks with Israel until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made some difficult calls.
"There's no use in negotiating further. The choice is (Netanyahu's) – either peace or settlements," said Erekat.
In interviews with a number of Arab papers, Erekat added that the Palestinians had given the US a few more weeks to persuade Netanyahu. "The Americans told us that their negotiations with Israel have not yet concluded and that when they are, within two or three weeks, we will be notified of the outcomes," he said.
"Everyone knows what a permanent settlement will look like and where territories will be exchanged, and we have already found a solution for east Jerusalem as well as a mechanism to determine this, and solutions for the refugee and security issues," Erekat added.
On Thursday Erekat said the Arab League decision on Oct. 9 giving the United States one month to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop settlements may be extended, but that the Palestinians would not cede the demand for a freeze.
Meanwhile the spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rdeina, said an Arab League follow-up committee meeting would take place after the four-day Eid Al-Adha holiday, on November 16.
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