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Palestinians Set New Conditions for Peace Talks to Continue
(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Palestinian Authority has set new conditions for agreeing to extend the peace talks with Israel after April, PA officials in Ramallah said Thursday. The new Palestinian conditions include Israeli recognition of the pre-1967 lines as the future borders of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital and the release of 1,200 Palestinian prisoners including three senior prisoners. The new conditions also include a complete cessation of settlement construction, PA sovereignty over Area C in the West Bank, and a halt of Israeli military operations in PA-controlled territories. Other conditions include lifting the blockade on Gaza, as well as the return of Palestinian gunmen who were deported to Gaza and Europe. Fatah leader Ziad Abu Ein, quoting chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat, said that if Israel accepts these conditions and releases the fourth batch of prisoners, then the PA would agree to pursue the negotiations until the end of the year.