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Abbas gives talks four months

05 May 2010 19:30 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. US envoy Mitchell meets Netanyahu to launch proximity negotiations, APA reports quoting â€œThe Jerusalem Postâ€.

Even as US Middle East envoy George Mitchell was meeting Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to launch proximity peace talks, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned that should the negotiations fail to focus on key issues, they could collapse within a few months.

"Negotiations will focus on final status issues and there’s no need to enter into details and small matters because we have had enough of that in the previous negotiations," Abbas said after talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II in the Jordanian capital.

Abbas gave the talks four months to make progress. After that, he said, he would seek Arab League advice on the next steps.

"We said the indirect negotiations will last only four months," Abbas said. "After that, we will go to the Arab League to consult on whether to continue or what to do."

Abbas said crucial issues to be discussed in the indirect talks with Israel must include the final borders of a future Palestinian state.

Speaking to CNN earlier Wednesday, Abbas called the Netanyahu government "extreme and uncooperative." The PA president added that "since they are an elected government, we have no choice but to work with them," but warned that he would halt negotiations should building in the West Bank continue.

The comments came as Abbas convened Fatah’s Central Committee, which is expected to give Abbas permission to enter into proximity talks.