No talks without Jerusalem settlement freeze: Palestinians

RAMALLAH, West Bank, March 11, 2010 (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will not relaunch negotiations with Israel unless it cancels plans for new settler homes in east Jerusalem, his top negotiator said Thursday.

"Abbas has told (Arab League Secretary General Amr) Mussa that he informed (US Vice President Joe) Biden yesterday that he could not restart negotiations without the cancellation of the building of 1,600 housing units in east Jerusalem," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP.


"He told Mussa, 'I am waiting for (US Middle East envoy George) Mitchell to come back next week to give us the answer that the decision has been cancelled'," Erakat said.


by Hiroshi Hiyama
(c) 2010 AFP