The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Monday asked Israel to clear its attitude towards the peace process following its decision to build new settlements near Jerusalem.
"We were surprised with the Israeli decision to build 850 housing unit in a settlement in the north of Jerusalem," PNA negotiator Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.
"This is a very dangerous matter that we strongly condemn it because there should be real peace and negotiations or aggressions and settlements ... these two tracks can't be combined," Erekat denounced.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved the renewed construction of the new homes in Givat Ze'ev, a West Bank settlement near Jerusalem.
Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Boim on Sunday instructed his office to continue construction in the neighborhood in Givat Ze'ev, which is beyond the Green Line.
According to the obligations under the Road Map peace plan, Israel has to immediately stop all settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
For the PNA, the settlements "destroy the peace process" and threatens the fate of the peace negotiations which were launched in November at a U.S.-hosted peace conference in Annapolis.
"It is shameful that the peace process is harmed by the settlements, walls, orders and the policy of creating facts on the ground," Erekat said.
Source: Xinhua
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