Indyk admits dangers of settlements, Arafat calls for negotiations until Israeli elections

The US ambassador in Tel Aviv Martin Indyk said that the settlement policy and construction of ring-roads in the west bank and Gaza resulted in the decline of the Palestinian confidence in the negotiation process.

Meantime, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority Yasser Arafat called Israel for a Marathon continuous negotiations in the Egyptian city of Taba in order to reach an agreement.

At a time when the Israeli occupation tanks continued its bombardment of the palestinian areas and cities in the West Bank and Gaza, the Israeli occupation forces intensified its military barriers on the roads and cross-roads used by the Palestinians.

For their part, the Israeli settlers, in collaboration with the Israeli soldiers blocked the roads in Toulkarem and kidnapped on Wednesday evening two Palestinian girls from Beitouna village in Ramullah. The Israeli settlers killed a Palestinian youth from Ramullah near Bsaghout settlement.

The commander of the Palestinian police Kamal al-Sheikh said that kidnapping incidents of the Palestinians and killing them by the settlers have been increased recently in the Palestinian territories.

On Wednesday the settlers kidnapped Khalil al-Awadi in Gaza and his body was found near Natsareim settlement.

Meantime, the Israeli forces during the two past days arrested 8 Palestinians in Shaafat camp near Jerusalem.

Indyk added that Israel's expansion of its settlements and the construction of ring-roads on lands belonging to the Palestinians and installing crossing and barriers led to the deterioration of confidence entrusted by the Palestinian on the negotiation process with Israel.

In a speech he made on Thursday before journalists in Tel Aviv, Indyk hoped that the palestinian and Israeli sides will be able to bridge the gap between them concerning the questions of Jerusalem and the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homes.