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Abbas: Palestinians ready for direct peace talks with Israel

26 July 2010 21:11 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday stressed that the Palestinians are ready for direct peace negotiations with Israel, denying he is avoiding such talks, APP reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

"The Palestinians are ready for starting direct talks. We have already been engaged with Israel in such negotiations," Abbas told reporters after a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan in Amman, adding that the Palestinians are not avoiding direct talks with Israel.

Addressing the press, Abbas said direct peace talks are "very possible" with the Israelis when settlement activities are frozen and negotiations start with a clear reference on the basis of creating a Palestinian state at the borders of 1967.

The Palestinian leader said a meeting will be held at the Arab League in Cairo soon to discuss future steps, adding that indirect talks are still going on.

Abbas said Jordan and the Palestinians permanently coordinate their position, adding that there are important developments and issues that require constant coordination.

At the meeting with Abdullah II, the two sides discussed latest developments in efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution, which entails the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the Palestinian national soil within a region context for peace, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

They also discussed the results of proximity talks that started between the Palestinians and the Israelis in May with a view to create an appropriate environment for the launch of direct peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis as soon as possible.

The two leaders underlined the need for effective actions to create the atmosphere that allows for the start of direct peace talks between in line with terms of reference that ensure that these talks lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The two leaders stressed on the importance of continued cooperation between the involved parties to ensure realizing a progress in the peace process.

The Jordanian King said his country will continue discussions and work with all regional and international parties involved in the peace process to overcome obstacles that face the peace process currently.

Jordan will also work with other parties to create the appropriate atmosphere for resuming direct Palestinian-Israeli peace talks that address all final status issues in preparation for the two-state solution, which is the sole way for resolving the conflict and attaining peace and stability in the Middle East, according to the King.

The two leaders also underlined the need that Israel halts all its unilateral measures that seek to alter the current situation on the ground, especially the expansion of settlements, demolishing houses, as well as its attempts to evict the Muslim and Christian Arab residents of Jerusalem.