Abbas puts conditions for negotiations to be extended

Four conditions must to be met in order for the Palestinian Authority to agree to an extension, past the April deadline, to US backed peace talks, President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday.

During a meeting with the head of Israel’s Meretz party; Zahava Gal-On, Abbas said: “If the framework agreement with Israel does not provide solutions to the core issues we will not agree to extend the negotiations.”

Abbas and the Palestinian negotiating team have reiterated their absolute refusal to extend the negotiations period with Israel as the US proposed upon Israel’s request.

Israel Radio correspondents who attended part of the meeting with the Israeli delegation said: “Abbas pointed out that the Palestinians may agree to extend the negotiation period if Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agrees to freeze construction in the settlements and releases a new batch of Palestinian prisoners.”

Abbas reiterated, during the meeting, his demands to ensure the right of return for five million Palestinian refugees to the territories occupied in 1948, adding that he expects Israel to set quotas for refugees who will be assimilated annually.