Erekat: Barak blows the peace process

Palestinian senior negotiator Saeb Erekat commented on the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who he said that UN Security Council resolution 242 does not apply to the West Bank and Gaza, saying that if these declarations were true it would destroy the whole peace process.

Erekat said there are 34 rights that Israel will not implement and which will be discussed in the final stage of negotiations, among which are the secure passage, releasing the prisoners, redeployment and other issues. He added that settlements and peace do not meet, saying, "If Israel wants peace, then it must fulfill the rights."

He added that the Palestinian leadership adheres to the Israeli withdrawal from all the lands occupied in 1967 and establishing the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.