RAMALLAH, May 22, 2011 (WAFA) – Member of the PLO’s executive committee Saeb Erekat said Sunday that the emergency leadership meeting called for after US President Barack Obama’s speech on Thursday could be held by mid-week.

He said on Voice of Palestine that the meeting is expected to convene on Tuesday or Wednesday after President Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently in Jordan, completes his consultation with Arab leaders and after the Arab League’s Follow-Up committee convenes an extraordinary meeting in Cairo this week.

Erekat also said that Obama’s reference to the 1967 borders as the basis for negotiations was the right thing, but what is more important is that it should also come from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Once Netanyahu says that the negotiations will lead to a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, then everything will be set,” he said. Before this is done, the Palestinian position from resuming negotiations will not change.

Netanyahu has already rejected Obama’s call, arguing that the 1967 borders will leave Israeli vulnerable.

Obama is also expected to deliver a speech Sunday to the powerful pro-Israel lobby group in Washington, AIPAC, in which he may clarify what he said on Thursday regarding the terms of reference for the negotiations.

Netanyahu, who is under pressure to accept Obama’s speech to evade international isolation, will also address AIPAC on Tuesday.

M.A.