RAMALLAH, April 18, 2012 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat Wednesday said that President Mahmoud Abbas insisted on delivering his letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Palestinian Prisoner Day to stress the status of their issue as a priority.
Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio that Abbas’ letter discussed several issues, including settlement activities, peace references, and the implementation of Sharm el Sheikh memorandum, which included the release of all prisoners detained before the singing of Oslo Accord in 1993, in addition to releasing Palestinian prisoners in accordance with a previous agreement between Abbas and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Erekat said that his meeting with Netanyahu on Tuesday was not part of negotiations, but merely to deliver the Palestinian leadership’s letter.
He denied allegations that the letter contained a threat to dismantle the Palestinian Authority, stressing the need to restore its role in accordance with signed agreements in order to “bring back life to the peace process.”
He reiterated the Palestinian leadership’s intentions to resume diplomatic efforts to win recognition of a Palestinian state if Israel returns with a negative response to the letter.
