Erekat threatens to halt negotiations if Israel continues to waste time

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat informed Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa of the failure of negotiations with Israel.

Erekat said that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu exploits these negotiations to waste time and give the impression of continuing the peace process while avoiding implementing the US initiative for second-phase withdrawal.

Erekat urged the U.S. to place real pressure on the Israeli government to move the peace process forward, adding that the Palestinians will halt their talks with Israel unless progress takes place.

He added that the goal of the Palestinian president's tour is to increase Arab, Islamic and international pressure on Israel, clarifying that the Israeli side didn't accept the US initiative and would need a miracle to accept the initiative.

Erekat said that if the Israelis did not present anything that proves their commitment toward the minimum level of the US initiative, the Palestinian negotiation team will refer to the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to inform her that they have not reached any new developments with the Israelis.