Palestinians will not resume peace talks with Israel until it fully halts the construction of Jewish settlements on occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday.
Abbas made his statement after talks with President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak.
"We'll not resume negotiations, until there is a total moratorium on settlements on all Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem," Abbas said.
Abbas flew into the Egyptian capital on Saturday evening to meet with the Egyptian leader and discuss the political situation in the Middle East and the U.S. new initiatives to revive the Mideast peace process.
The United States has offered Israel a package of incentives in exchange for a 90-day moratorium on construction. The proposal has angered the Palestinians since it does not include East Jerusalem, the future capital of any Palestinian state.
Direct peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders resumed on September 2 in Washington after being stalled for 20 months. The talks, however, came under threat after the 10-month partial moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank expired on September 26, sparking fierce criticism from the Palestinians.
There are more than 400,000 Israelis living in some 120 settlements across the occupied Palestinian territory. Diplomats from the Middle East Quartet of international peace mediators have urged Israel to halt settlement building to save the peace talks.
CAIRO, November 21 (RIA Novosti)
