国际英语新闻：Erekat: Palestinians still await U.S. clarification on proximity talks

RAMALLAH, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Monday the Palestinians are still waiting for Washington to clarify the reference and objectives of the proximity talks with a U.S. mediator shuttling between Palestinians and Israelis.

"President (Mahmoud) Abbas has consulted widely with his brothers, the Arab leaders and our friends in the international community regarding the obstacles Israel has put in the way of talks. These consultations will continue," said Erekat.

The Palestinian side is still waiting for the answers from the Unites States, and "Only then will they be considered, and only President Abbas will announce his decision. Until that time, media speculation is both premature and unhelpful," he said in a statement.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled since December 2008, as Israel insists on continuing settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Abbas reject renewal of peace talks unless Israel completely stops settlement activities in the Palestinian territories.

U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell has made shuttle visits to the region. He had recently held talks with both sides in a bid to resume the peace talks.

"We have paid several visits to Washington. For its part, Israel continues to impose a series of preconditions on negotiations that prevent their resumption and narrow the political horizon for peace," said Erekat.

He said that "this includes saying no to a settlement freeze, no to recognize the 1967 borders, the rights of Palestinian refugees and Jerusalem as the capital of two states."

"These are all permanent status issues that establish a framework for peace based on the two-state solution," said Erekat.

He accused Israel of only seeking negotiations, "but not the two-state solution. As Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak recently warned, the only outcome is an apartheid state."