Erekat hesitant on eve of talks ( Ma'an )

Saeb Erekat, the chief PLO negotiator, on Monday expressed reservations on the recently announced indirect negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

"President Abbas wants certain answers to some inquiries he submitted to US Middle East envoy George Mitchell before indirect talks can start," Erekat told reporters in Jericho.

"The required answers are about the Israeli government's approval of more residential units in settlements and home demolitions. We expect answers within the coming days," he added.

Erekat said the proposed indirect negotiations, expected to begin soon, would be futile if the borders of the future Palestinian state were not agreed upon in advance. Border proposals must include all the Palestinian territories occupied on 4 June 1967, he added.

The top PLO official stressed that "indirect talks shouldn't be traditional, with the US mediator shuttling between two rooms designated for the negotiations teams ... We want a practical negotiations process, where each negotiating team can hold consultations.

"The process may involve two separate delegations, invited to Washington separately, to discuss each issue in order to bridge the gap and thus both sides start direct negotiations."

Erekat suggested that Mitchell affirm that the Palestinian state will include all the territories occupied on 4 June 1967, and that in the event territories were to be exchanged, it would be on an equal basis.

Furthermore, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government should demonstrate its commitment to negotiations by halting settlement activities, stopping the daily detentions of Palestinians, and freezing construction on the separation wall, he said.

"If these activities continue, Israel will be foiling the US proposal and international efforts," Erekat insisted.

In regard to talk of naming Ramallah the Palestinian capital and Tel Aviv as Israel's, with special arrangements for a shared Jerusalem, Erekat termed the proposal "nonsense."

"Jerusalem is occupied Palestinian territory according to the UN Resolutions 224 and 338. It is the same as Rafah, Ramallah, Jericho, and other occupied Palestinian territories," he said.

He added: "Our state won't impede anyone's religious rites. We will not deny followers of heavenly religions access to Jerusalem."

Jericho – Ma'an