PNA rejects U.S. proposal to restart peace talks

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Saturday rejected a U.S. offer to resume peace talks with Israel, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.

Abbas, who met the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Abu Dhabi Saturday, refused the offer, Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.

Erekat said the offer failed to respond to the PNA's demands and conditions that no talks should take place before Israel stops Jewish settlement in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"Abbas reiterated that the negotiations with Israel cannot be restarted if the latter does not stop the settlement activities, including the so-called natural growth of the blocs," Erekat said.

The meeting between Abbas and Clinton was "frank and clear," according to Erekat.

Clinton, on her second Middle East visit as U.S. secretary of state, renewed President Barack Obama's commitment to creating a Palestinian statehood within two years.

The Palestinians want their statehood in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the East Jerusalem. Due to the continuation of the Israeli settlement on the Palestinian territories, Erekat admitted the gaps between the PNA and Israel "are very deep." 　

Source: Xinhua