JERICHO, May 25, 2011 (WAFA) - Saeb Erekat, PLO executive committee member, said Wednesday that the Israeli government is not a peace partner due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal of the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders and continuing settlement activities instead of reaching peace.

In his meeting with European diplomats in Jericho, Erekat said that Netanyahu wants to drop issues of refugees and Jerusalem from the final negotiations. Netanyahu wants to determine security issues in advance of negotiations; Palestinian state fully demilitarized and Israel maintains a long-term military presence along the Jordan River.

He added, “Netanyahu insists on keeping what he called ‘settlement blocs’ which means he decided the final negotiations results without any negotiations and through dictations.”

He said, “Not only that, Netanyahu also insisted on rejecting the Palestinian reconciliation, saying ‘If Abbas wants to talk to me, he should tear up the agreement with Hamas.’”

“Netanyahu  conditioned negotiations on Abbas’ acceptance of Israel as a ‘Jewish state,’” he said.

Erekat called on the international community to hold Israel responsible for the failure of the peace process.

Netanyahu delivered a speech to US congress Tuesday in which he said that there is no compromise on Jerusalem, refugees and withdrawal from the 1967 borders.

T.R./F.R.