LOC11:50
08:50 GMT
GAZA, June 12 (KUNA) -- Palestinian Minister of Negotiation Affairs Dr.
Saeb Erekat announced on Sunday readiness to resume negotiations with Israel
in case it accepted the principle of two independent states, according to 1967
borders.
He added, in remarks to Voice of Palestine Radio, if Israel stops building
more settlements, especially in eastern Jerusalem, the Palestinians will
negotiate on final-status issues to resolve them according to a timetable.
He indicated at a recent French initiative, proposing 12 months of
negotiations on these issues, including refugees, Jerusalem and other topics.
Erekat stressed on the need of the Palestinians to "have the right to rule
themselves, while ensuring the security of Israel as a Jewish state, which
should have the right to defend itself, like any other state."
Erekat, who returned from Washington, three days ago, discussed key issues
with U.S. officials during his visit to the US. They included Palestinian
reconciliation with Hamas, which is considered as an overriding interest, the
aspired peace settlement, and the membership of Palestine in the Unites
Nations (UN) according to 1967 borders, and eastern Jerusalem as its capital.
He added that Palestinians are working to form a government with
independent members, in order to hold legislative and presidential elections.
Elaborating, he said, "we do not see the meaning of all this chaos about
the refusal of reconciliation, because it is the only way for the
implementation of the principle of two states with the 1967 borders, and to
achieve unity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip."
He also alluded to the "rhetoric battle" which took place late last month
in Washington between US President Barack Obama and Israel's Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, in which the latter tried to present a new reference for a
peace agreement in his speech in the Congress.
This reference is to keep the occupation of Jerusalem and drop the issues
of the files of refugees, Jerusalem, borders and security, while keeping the
Israeli occupation forces in the Jordan Valley and the settlement blocs and
even preventing the return of Palestinian refugees.
Erekat informed the Unites States that the Palestinian leadership could do
not find a partner for peace in Israel, especially after the speech of
Netanyahu in the Congress.
"This had stopped us from going to the UN Security Council, fearing the US
veto, and Netanyahu's rejection of the peace process reference, and refusal of
Palestinian reconciliation," he confirmed.
He called on the international community to hold its responsibilities
towards Palestine after 20 years of the peace process, and to help
Palestianians achieve their independence.
The White House is awaiting Netanyahu's "acceptance of the principles of
peace with the Palestinians, as set by American President Obama," the Israeli
daily Haaretz reported on Saturday.
Obama stressed in a speech, on May 19, his country's commitment to
maintaining the security of Israel, while he set out principles of a peaceful
settlement in the Middle East.
Obama called in a speech for a "peace agreement that includes the
establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine on the borders that existed
before Israel captured the West Bank in 1967, and said it" will include an
agreed exchange of land between them." (end)
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