国际英语新闻：Arabs, Palestinians under U.S. pressure to start direct talks with Israel: DFLP

AMMAN, July. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians and the Arabs are under immense U.S. pressure to start direct negotiations prior to the deadline of the proximity talks on Sept. 26, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) said on Sunday.

U.S. Middle East Envoy George Mitchell sent Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a verbal message from U.S. President Barack Obama last week, indicating indirect talks between the Palestinians and Israelis have reached a dead end and the Palestinians should move to direct talks, Nayef Hawatmeh, DFLP's secretary general said in the Jordanian capital Amman.

Hawatmeh said the Palestinian Central Council will hold a meeting next month to discuss the latest developments regarding the indirect negotiations and the U.S. efforts to start direct talks.

He called on the Arab Follow-up Committee not to make a decision to start direct negotiations during its meeting scheduled for next Thursday so as to allow for the completion of indirect talks.

Hawatmeh highlighted the necessity to complete the indirect talks, saying it is important to set a specific time frame for direct talks before they start, adding these talks should be held under international monitoring and in the presence of an international team.

Besides, it is also necessary to freeze the settlements and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip before starting face-to-face talks, he said, adding if the negotiations should fail Palestinians should look for other options such as asking the Security Council to impose penalties on any party that place obstacles on the path of the peace process.

Hawatmeh said the Israeli government has been taking aggressive unilateral measures and proceeding with the settlement activities.

Meanwhile, he stressed the necessity to end the division between the Palestinian factions and to resume the national dialogue.