'Talks with Israel pointless'

WEST BANK: A Palestinian negotiator says there's no point to talking peace with Israel as long as settlement construction continues.

Negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo also says the talks should stop as long as the building goes on.

"The peace process and negotiations have run into a huge crisis because of the continued Israeli settlement expansion," Abed Rabbo said Thursday. "As a result, the talks have become pointless."

Abed Rabbo appeared to be expressing his own opinion. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said negotiations would continue despite the frictions. Ramallah, Thursday, AP