Saeb Erekat
Photo: AFP
PA official: Israel jeopardizing peace talks
Following meeting with special US Mideast envoy, Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat says PA urged Washington to 'compel Israel to cease its provocation'
Special US Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat in Ramallah Wednesday.
The Palestinians reportedly expressed their discontent with Israel's latest decisions.
"We've made it clear that things like provocative statements regarding settlements jeopardize the peace talks," Erekat said.
Flexibility
London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi says Palestinian president will inform special US Middle East envoy that he is willing to have NATO forces monitor future Palestine's borders
He further warned against "statements by Israeli officials, like the ones we've been hearing over the last few of days, saying the talks have already failed."
According to Erekat, Abbas is determines to support Mitchell's efforts in the region and see the proximity talks through.
The Palestinian Authority, he added, wants to focus on the final agreement, in order to promote the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
Erekat added that the Palestinians have not inquired after the results of Mitchell's meeting with Israeli officials, nor do they intend to.
"These are proximity talks that each side holds with the Americans. We hope that their four months would be used to determine the two states' borders," he said.
