LOC13:41
10:41 GMT
RAMALLAH, Nov 17 (KUNA) -- David Hill, Deputy U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, is to arrive here later on Wednesday to brief the Palestinian leaders on the details of U.S. proposal on resuming direct peace negotiations, Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat said here.
Erekat added in radio statements today that head of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Mahmoud Abbas will put forward the above-mentioned proposal before the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Fatah movement, in addition to discussing it with other Arab parties following reaching a decision regarding it.
The PNA had previously denied having any information about a proposal made by the U.S. for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on putting a temporary halt to settlement building for three months, with the exception of Jerusalem, in exchange for U.S. political and security incentives to make Israel return to direct peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Further, U.S. administration put forward an overture to the Israeli Prime Minister during his recent visit to Washington that provides for freezing settlements construction for three months in exchange for U.S. use of veto in the UN Security Council to thwart any unilateral Palestinian measure for declaring the establishment of the Palestinian state, and to pledge that Palestinians will not ask again for freezing settlement building.
Netanyahu said some days ago that the proposal's end formula was not forged yet and that it will reviewed ,following its formulation, by the Israeli government, while expectations say that the proposal will get meagre minority that will not be enough for its passage by the Israeli government in which the hard-liners oppose any settlement freeze.
The direct negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis have stopped briefly following its start due to Israel's insistence on going ahead with construction in the settlements. (end) nq.aff KUNA 171341 Nov 10NNNN