Palestinians to reject direct talks

PALESTINE: Frustrated by the sluggish pace of proximity talks with Israel, the Palestinians will likely reject a visiting US envoy's calls for direct negotiations, officials and analysts say.

In recent weeks Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has largely backed away from conditioning direct talks on a full settlement freeze, instead insisting on "progress" on the issue of borders and security in the US-brokered talks launched in May.

But Israel has thus far refused to completely halt the construction of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land and, according to the Palestinians, has yet to respond to their proposals on the two thorny issues.

On Thursday, Abbas's secular Fatah movement issued a statement warning that the "lack of credibility and confidence resulting from the Israeli rejection of the indirect talks, which have achieved no progress, will become entrenched ... if there is a transition to direct talks.

"That is something the Palestinian leadership has not and will not accept."

A decision this week to approve the construction of more than 30 new homes in a major east Jerusalem settlement, as well as the demolition of six Palestinian homes built without city permits, could further constrain Abbas.

In a letter addressed to visiting US envoy George Mitchell, who was to meet with Abbas and Netanyahu over the weekend, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat slammed the expansion of settlements in mostly Arab east Jerusalem and other "illegal and provocative" Israeli policies in the city.

He went on to accuse Israel of "flagrant violations" of past agreements going back to the 1990s.

Palestinian analysts said they expected Abbas to reject face-to-face talks while trying to avoid a confrontation with US President Barack Obama, who earlier this month said he hoped to see them launched by September.

RAMALLAH, Friday, AFP