Xinhua
April 8, 2010 - 12:00am
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-04/08/c_13243119.htm


Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday called on the United States to take the initiative and announce it would recognize the future Palestinian state.

"The Palestinians don't want to see new ideas to settle the conflict in the Middle East. They want international resolutions to be implemented," Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.

Erekat explained that the Palestinians want Washington "to go to the Security Council and announce its acceptance of the international law which accepts a Palestinian statehood, with Jerusalem as its capital."

Erekat went on saying that the U.S. administration "should start working on settling the final-status issues" related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Earlier, Israeli media reports said Washington plans to invite Palestinian and Israeli leaders to negotiate behind doors, similar to the Camp David summit negotiations in 2000 which was held by then President Bill Clinton's administration. The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said it was not aware of such plans.

On Wednesday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he rejects any U.S. attempt to impose a solution on Israel, according to a report on Ha'aretz newspaper.

Last month, Israel hampered a U.S. proposal to hold proximity talks with the Palestinians by approving the building of 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem.




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