Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority stated that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas would be ready to resume political talks with Israel if Israel agrees to impose a housing moratorium.
 
Erekat made the remarks at a meeting in New York with representatives of the American Jewish community. In November of 2009 the Israeli government imposed a 10-month construction freeze on all houses, schools and buildings in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.