LOC11:25
08:25 GMT
RAMALLAH, April 27 (KUNA) -- A senior Palestinian official condemned on
Wednesday an Israeli plan to build settlements in the Jerusalem region saying
the scheme would torpedoe the peace process.
The chief peace negotiator, Dr. Saeb Oreikat, said in a statement to KUNA
that the new scheme, declared by the Israel Settlements Council, constituted
another move on the path of systematic jeopardizing of the peace process.
He has slammed the government of Benjamin Netanyahu saying the latter is
trying to exploit a recent American veto against a resolution that called for
cessation of the construction of the settlements.
Washington voted, on February 18, against the draft resolution.
Oreikat called on the US Admininstration to intervene immediately to coerce
Israel halt "such horrific Israeli settlement plans that will undermine the
peace process.
"We say it loudly, a Palestinian state is senseless without East Jerusalem
as its capital, and peace cannot be realized without Israel's withdrawal from
East Jerusalem."
Meanwhile, Oreikat accused the Israeli Government of planning "a campaign
of lies" against the Palestinian Authority to solicit international
recognition of the Palestinian State. (pickup previous)
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