JERICHO, April 24, 2012 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat Tuesday discussed with US peace envoy David Hale the consequences of the Israeli government’s decision to establish new settlements, according to a statement issued by Erekat's office.

He described the Israeli settlement activities as a scheme in order to preserve the settlement outposts.

Erekat said the Palestinian Authority refuses to even discuss the issue of the so-called legalizing settlements, considering all settlements to be illegal and void and a war crime as per the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention.

He said that freezing settlement activities, accepting the two-state solution and releasing all Palestinian prisoners and detainees are not conditions but obligations Israel must commit to.

He stated that if Israel chooses to continue with its settlement activities, the two-state-solution and peace process will be doomed to fail and only Israel will bear the consequences for its acts.

M.H./M.S.