Abbas on peace talks: We have enough time
In interview with German TV Palestinian president says negotiations with Israel still at early stages
The Palestinians have refused discussing the negotiations since they began two months ago and have not leaked any information from the talks. Alongside optimism, Abbas also outlined the main obstacles in the talks. "The settlement construction policy cannot go on, " he said. "The destruction (caused by) the settlers cannot go on and the destruction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque cannot go on."
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He reiterated that a peace agreement will be put to a Palestinian referendum. Addressing a conference in Germany, Abbas said that Jerusalem should be the capital of both states and that the Palestinians believe that it should be open to worshippers of the three religions.
The Palestinian president added that Israel's claims to east Jerusalem render the conflict a religious one and stressed that the Palestinian Authority is strictly opposed to this.
Addressing the peace process, he said, "We are not operating in a vacuum and are not running around in a maze. We know what the finish line is and what the last stop is."
He said that the Palestinians aim to achieve a just peace that will solve all of the standing issues adding that Palestinians are facing a time of hope and economic rejuvenation.
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