Saeb Erekat says pacts compel Israel to maintain sanctuaries and corporations

Palestinian chief negotiator and minister of local administration Saeb Erekat confirmed in special statements to BBC radio that the pacts endorsed by Israel include the pledge of Israeli government to keep and maintain the sanctuaries of the Islamic and Christian religions, the bureaus and general corporations in Jerusalem.

Commenting on the decision by Israel to close Palestinian governmental offices in East Jerusalem, Erekat said Iraeli Prime Minsiter Netanyahu should re-read the literature concerning these pacts to understand that all Palestinian corporations in East Jerusalem should be operational and last as they were 20 years ago.

Furthermore, Erekat confirmed that the Palestinian Authority is extremely opposed to these practices because it will not only lead to the halting of the peace process but also to the destruction of peace hopes.

The official dealing with Jerusalem issue in the Palestinian Authority, Faisel al-Husseini, confirmed that the Palestinian Authority opposes the Israeli decision, considering it a backward step in the process to find a peaceful solution between the Palestinians and Israelis.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority protested in Washington against the procedure taken by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of closing three Palestinian corporations in occupied Jerusalem on Monday.

Palestinian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nabil Shaath said that the protest was officially presented to the US State Department on Monday by Hassan Abd El-Rahman, the Palestinian ambassador in Washington.