Brussels, 10/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 October, during a meeting in Ramallah with ambassadors and representatives from the European Union, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed his agreement for the EU position to serve as a basis for the return to peace negotiations with Israel. The European references on the lines before the 1967 war and the viability of a two-state solution would thus serve as the basis for discussion. The EU also calls for a halt to settlement building, which is illegal under international law. The European position would be used “in writing a draft Palestinian resolution which will be presented to the United Nations to obtain the status of non-member state to the General Assembly”, Abbas said, as quoted by AFP. He said that, when the Palestinian territory has obtained this status, “we will be ready to return to the negotiating table with the Israeli party in order to discuss any questions on the final status” (our translation throughout). He hopes to obtain this status by the end of the year.
The Israeli side wants negotiations to be resumed without prior conditions. (CG/transl.fl)