(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Palestinian Authority on Thursday stepped up its rhetorical attacks on Israel, accusing the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu of "political maneuvering" and "deception" following its decision to freeze construction in West Bank settlements for 10 months. The PA is also furious with the U.S. administration for hailing the decision as a step forward toward resuming the peace process in the Middle East. Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior PLO official who also serves as a spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, said the PA leadership would not agree to resume the peace talks unless Israel halted all construction work in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. Abed Rabbo called for increased pressure on Israel to force it to withdraw to the pre-1967 borders, including eastern Jerusalem. Chief PA negotiator Saeb Erekat condemned the Israeli decision as a "dangerous scheme," arguing that it was aimed to appease the Americans.
2009-11-27 08:35:25Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive