Not feeling the need to defend the PA (Palestinian Authority) policies, senior negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat announced on Monday that he does not see talks with Israel resuming anytime soon, blaming Israel entirely for the impasse, citing ongoing “settlement construction” and a failure to adhere to the demands made, the PA preconditions to a resumption of talks.

Erekat insists that the US Roadmap Plan demands a total and unconditional Israel halt to settlement construction, adding talks must resume from the point where they left off with previous administrations, rejecting the political statements from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is unwilling to halt construction in certain areas, including Jerusalem.

Mr. Netanyahu is also calling on the PA to return to diplomatic talks immediately, without any preconditions.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)