There is no such thing as unconditional negotiations with Israel, Secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee Saeb Erekat said yesterday.
Speaking following an invitation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, Erekat said: “Netanyahu has to announce the halt of settlement, release the fourth batch of prisoners and recognise all the previous agreements… without this, there would not be any negotiations.”
Erekat stressed that the PA does not incite violence against Israel as Netanyahu and the Israeli media claims.
Israel has been waging a “comprehensive” war against the Palestinians, including house demolitions, land expropriation, ethnic cleansing, keeping bodies of martyrs, storming Al-Aqsa Mosque amongst other measure, the official said.
“The aim of all Israeli measures is known: not to leave Palestine on the map. They want to reinforce the de facto occupation of Palestine… peace and stability starts from Palestine.”
On Monday, Netanyahu invited Abbas to meet him in Jerusalem this week.