(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon and Khaled Abu Toameh - An announcement of the restart of direct Palestinian-Israeli talks continued to elude visiting U.S. envoy George Mitchell Wednesday. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat stressed that the PA was sticking to its position that Israel should first recognize the 1967 lines as the future borders of a Palestinian state and halt settlement construction as a precondition for entering into direct talks. However, a U.S. official said that while the Palestinians were seeking U.S. guarantees in support of its position, "we are very sincere in saying that they need to sit down and do this face to face. Any other understanding that would preempt sitting and talking together is not best for the process."
2010-08-12 08:36:56Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive