Whilst peace talks are in progress, Israel kills 31 Palestinians and detained 500

Member of Fatah Executive Committee Mohammad Shtayyeh has said that Israel has killed 31 Palestinians, arrested 500 and destroyed 208 Palestinian houses since July when the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks resumed.

Speaking to diplomats and journalists in Bethlehem, Shtayyeh said: “The talks aimed at ending the occupation and setting up a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” He added: “This is against what Israel wanted.”

He said that the international community has agreed on the solution sought by the Palestinians. He accused Israel of jeopardising that solution and “considering talks a tactic before the international community in order to expand settlements.”

Shtayyeh said: “We [Fatah and the Palestinian Authority] are not looking for a makeshift agreement. We are looking for a deliberate and comprehensive one that brings justice to Palestinians.”

Meanwhile, he appreciated the efforts of the US Secretary of State John Kerry being exerted in this issue. He also appreciated the EU and Quartet efforts supporting the two-state solution.

He called for those bodies to develop their stances by boycotting settlements and their products.

On the Arabic front, he also said that Fatah and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are going to Cairo to put the latest developments on the issue before Arab foreign ministers.

Please note: The original title of this item read “Whilst peace talks are in progress, Israel kills 31 Palestinians and injures 500”. This was an editorial mistake, and has been amended to read “Whilst peace talks are in progress, Israel kills 31 Palestinians and detained 500”. The text of the page did not require updating.
Page update 20.40GMT 21st December 2013