RAMALLAH, February 14, 2011 (WAFA) – PLO Executive Committee member Saleh Ra’afat Monday denied reports that the PLO has dissolved the negotiation affairs department.

Saeb Erekat, who headed the Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO, resigned Saturday after an investigation committee found out that documents leaked to al-Jazeera television on negotiations came from his department.

Ra’afat told WAFA that the PLO is working on restructuring the negotiations department until a new chief for the department is named.

He said that a committee was formed to follow up on negotiations in case it was resumed with Israel.

Negotiations stopped in September after Israel refused to extend a settlement freeze. The Palestinian Authority says it will not resume negotiations before Israel stops all settlement activities in the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Palestinian People’s Party, Bassam Salhi, called for dissolving the negotiations department.

“There are currently no negotiations that call for the continuation of this department,” he said.

T.R./F.R.