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Abbas: Talks can’t resume without settlement freeze

19 May 2011 00:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. PA president tells US diplomats that "the Israeli government’s refusal to stop settlement building was the reason behind stalled peace talks", APA reports quoting â€œThe Jerusalem Postâ€.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday that he was prepared to resume negotiations with Israel immediately if it agrees to fulfill its obligations in line with international agreements and the road map.

Abbasâ€™s statement came during a meeting in Ramallah with US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and US Consul-General in Jerusalem, Daniel Rubenstein.

Abbas told the US officials that the Israeli governmentâ€™s refusal to halt construction in the settlements and define clear terms of reference for the peace process was the reason behind the stalled peace talks, a PA official said.

Abbas also briefed the officials on the latest developments surrounding the Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation accord between his Fatah faction and Hamas and efforts to establish a new government of independent technocrats, the PA official said.

Abbas, according to the official, reassured the US officials that the new governmentâ€™s political platform would be that of the PLO, adding that the Palestinians remained committed to the peace process.

The meeting in Ramallah came amid reports that Hamas and Fatah negotiators were close to reaching agreement over identities of the ministers who would serve in the new Palestinian government.

The two parties have been holding intensive talks in Cairo since the beginning of the week to discuss ways of implementing the reconciliation pact.

However, the two sides have yet to reach agreement over who would head the unity government. Hamas officials were quoted in the past few days as voicing strong opposition to the appointment of Salam Fayyad as prime minister.

It also remains unclear if Fatah supports Fayyad as prime minister of the unity government.

Some Fatah representatives have hinted that Fayyad is Abbasâ€™s preferred candidate for prime minister.

Others, however, have proposed the name of businessman Mamoun Abu Shahla from the Gaza Strip as prime minister.

Azzam al-Ahmed, head of the Fatah delegation to the talks with Hamas, said on Wednesday that the new government would be established within one month.
He said that both Fatah and Hamas have presented the names of 70 candidates who would serve as ministers.

Al-Ahmed was quoted by the Bethlehem-based Ma’an news agency as saying that the new government would be completely independent.