Erekat: continuing disputes between Palestinians and Israelis

Palestinian top negotiator Saeb Erekat said that "there are (continuing) disputes between Israel and Palestine in the negotiations which took place in Washington."

He clarified that the transitional agreement must result in the Palestinians having complete control over the West Bank and Gaza strip except for the issues concerning the final negotiations.

He said "we tried by all means to determine the exceptional issues concerning the transitional agreement, yet it did not work and the gap between us and Israel remained deep, yet they said that they will respect the date for carrying out the third stage (of redeployment) without connecting it to any of the final negotiations in coming June."

He said that "it was agreed on having further negotiations following our return home and our stance must comprise all the issues whether were it is Jerusalem, the borders, the refugees, the settlements and the water and it should be all related to one another and we must not separate or delay any of it."