Senior Fatah official Mohammad Shtayyeh said Friday that the Palestinian leadership is ready to negotiate if Israel stops building illegal settlements and releases Palestinian prisoners.

Shtayyeh told Ma'an an end to settlement activity and the release of prisoners were necessary for successful talks.

The Fatah central committee member's comments came in response to a report on Israel's Channel 10 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to resume talks with the PLO within three months of forming a new government.