In a short interview with PNN Arabic on Monday morning, PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat accused Israel of obstructing the peace process through settlements and said if negotiations fail, it was incumbent on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to “think seriously” about a one-state solution.
PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat (UPI Image).
“Either the Palestinian Authority transitions from occupation to independence, or Netanyahu must think seriously about taking responsibility for everything between the river and the sea.”
The Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea form the eastern and western borders of historic Palestine, of which 22% is currently governed by Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Proponents of a one-state solution often refer to state boundaries stretching from “the river to the sea.”
Erekat said Israel took responsibility for the collapse of the peace process when they “chose settlements instead of peace,” and assured that the Palestinian Authority would return to the negotiating table when Israel stopped settling the West Bank and East Jerusalem altogether.
The Palestinian reconciliation process was well underway, Erekat claimed, saying Fatah council member and former Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Azzam is speaking to his Hamas counterparts. Both parties are preparing for a meeting next month between Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Meshaal, Erekat said, but gave no further details.
PNN - Palestine News Network
No comments:
Post a Comment