JERUSALEM, November 14, 2011 (WAFA) – Palestinian negotiators meeting Quartet representatives in Jerusalem on Monday stressed that Israeli settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian Territory and the two-state solution are mutually exclusive.
In a statement issued following the meeting held at the United Nations headquarters in Jerusalem, the second since the Quartet has issued its September 23 statement on reviving mediation efforts between the Palestinians and Israelis, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat re-emphasized the importance of halting settlements.
“We are ready to discuss all final status issues once Israel proves its seriousness and commitment by freezing all its illegal settlement construction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in occupied East Jerusalem, and accepting clear terms of reference, specifically the 1967 borders,” he said.
“We cannot understate the importance of this issue. There is no doubt about the fact that Israeli settlements and the two-state solution are mutually exclusive,” he added.
According to the statement, Erekat said that he and Muhammad Shtayyeh informed the Quartet that “in line with the timeline set out by the Quartet in its 23 September 2011 statement, we explained the PLO position on permanent status issues.”
The Quartet, which is composed of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, has called on Palestinians and Israelis to submit within three months their views on a solution for borders and security and to reach some kind of agreement before the end of next year.
The two sides had agreed in their previous meeting with the Quartet representatives to submit their proposals, according to a Quartet statement issued following that meeting.
The Palestinian delegation also reaffirmed that in order for any direct negotiations to begin, Israel must honor its obligations in accordance with international law and the Road Map, said Erekat in his statement.
“These are not favors that Israel is doing for us. This is an integral component of the formula for a credible exchange that would ensure a speedy and successful conclusion to the occupation and conflict,” said Erekat.
The Palestinian side also repeated its request for support from the Quartet to release Palestinian political prisoners, particularly those imprisoned before the Oslo Accords.
During the previous meeting with the Quartet, Erekat delivered a letter, on behalf of the PLO Executive Committee, asking it to support Palestinian efforts to have the Israeli government implement its obligations under a 2008 prisoners’ agreement between President Mahmoud Abbas and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
M.S./F.J.
