Saeb Erekat
Saeb ErekatFlash 90

The Palestinian Authority responded unenthusiastically Thursday to offers by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to come to Ramallah and renew peace talks unconditionally with the Palestinian Authority (PA).

According to Kol Yisrael radio, Palestinian “prime minister” Rami Hamdallah said that the Palestinians are interested in a new framework for talks. He explained that the talks would not be renewed if a date is not set for ending them, and if the problem of borders is not discussed.

Another senior PA official, top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, said that the idea of returning to the unconditional negotiations is “a trap.” He said that the condition for renewed talks is that the Europeans vouch for Israeli recognition of Palestinian rights, including Jerusalem and the 'Right of Return.”

In addition, he said, all construction in the "settlements" must cease, and the Israel must free the fourth batch of terror prisoners who were to be released in the previous round of Israeli “gestures.”

Erekat spoke in an interview with Hamas mouthpiece A-Risala.