Erekat sent an urgent communique to Israel, France criticizes Israel

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat sent an urgent communique to the Israeli government's Cabinet secretary, Danny Naveh, asking the latter to halt the building in Ras Al-Amoud.

He called for immediate intervention from Prime Minister Netanyahu to stop this measure, which Erekat considers a beach to the recent Wye Plantation agreement.

Erekat said that he sent urgent messages to US peace process envoy Dennis Ross, European Union envoy Miguel Moratinos, and to Russia, Japan, Asia, Latin America, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whom the Palestinian authority asked for urgent intervention to halt this measure, in order to give peace an adequate chance.

Meanwhile, France on Monday criticized the Israeli government's approval of the resumption of building of an Israeli settlement in Ras al-Amoud district in occupied Jerusalem. The French Foreign Ministry said that the Israeli government's decision in this respect is "regretful because it was taken at a time when what is required are measures to do anything to restore confidence for the implementation of the Wye Plantation agreement."

The statement added that France hopes this decision will not be implemented.