BICOM

Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat reaffirmed yesterday that the Palestinian Authority is not prepared to resume direct negotiations with Israel until the latter agrees to a renewed settlement freeze and accepts what Erekat referred to as ‘clear terms of reference’ for talks. Erekat specifically named the ‘1967 borders’ as one of the terms of reference that Israel would need to accept for talks to resume. ‘We explained to the Quartet that we are prepared to sit at the negotiating table as soon as the Israeli government freezes all settlement construction and accepts clear terms of reference, specifically the 1967 borders,’ Erekat said. ‘Anything short of that will simply put us back on the failed track that we have been on for the last 20 years.’ Erekat’s statements came after he met with Quartet envoys yesterday. Palestinian negotiator Nabil Sha’ath echoed Erekat’s words in a public statement yesterday.

Israel, for its part, reiterated its readiness for negotiations without pre-conditions. A document issued by the Israel Foreign Ministry and made available to the media accused the PA of ‘pursuing an increasingly hostile, confrontational and unilateral approach’ which ‘has effectively blocked any possibility for political progress.’ It concluded that ‘a realistic appraisal of the situation indicates that attempts to proceed further at this time, towards political understandings, will surely end in failure.’