国际英语新闻：Trilateral contacts going on around peace talks resumption: Abbas

RAMALLAH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday evening that the three-way talks between Americans, Israelis and Palestinians are going on around the resumption of the stalled peace negotiations.

Abbas told the official Palestinian Satellite TV in an interview that there are intensive contacts between Palestinians and the Americans on one hand, and between the Americans and the Israelis on the other.

    "We may reach a result or not," said Abbas, adding "we say, this is our stance, if Israel really wants to resume the peace talks, it should halt all the settlement activities."

    "The talks would only be resumed if Israel is committed to the roadmap peace plan. I am not telling these words only to us or to the international community, but also to President Barack Obama," said Abbas.

    He went on saying "Israel has to implement its commitments, mainly halting all settlement activities, including the so-called natural growth."

    Earlier Sunday, the White House announced that the United States will arrange a three-way meeting, which will include U.S. President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Abbas.

    The aim of the meeting is to break the ice, agree on the issue of settlement construction and resume the stalled peace negotiations between the two sides that stopped about a year ago, said the White House statement.

    Abbas didn't comment on the White House announcement. He has not met with Netanyahu since the latter took office in March.