Ramallah (West Bank): Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas has been told by his Fatah movement that he must
not resume peace talks with Israel without an Israeli
settlement freeze.
Abbas is under pressure from the Obama administration to
return to talks with Israel. Last week, President Barack Obama
told Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that
negotiations must resume as quickly as possible.
Abbas has repeatedly said he would not resume talks
without an internationally mandated freeze. The position
adopted by Fatah's Central Committee would strengthen his
resolve. The Central Committee met yesterday.
Mohammed Dahlan, a Central Committee member, said today
that "settlements and negotiations are two parallel lines that
will never meet."
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, September 30, 2009, 20:39