The Palestinian Authority said on Monday that it was unaware of a new EU
initiative to revive peace talks with Israel.
The PA’s statement came in
response to an unconfirmed report according to which the EU is preparing a
“detailed political plan” with the goal of resuming peace negotiations between
Israel and the PA.
Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said in response that
he was unaware of any EU plan to revive the stalled peace talks.
He said
that no one has presented the PA leadership with any plan.
Erekat
reiterated the PA’s refusal to return to the negotiating table unless Israel
halted settlement construction and released Palestinian prisoners.
The PA
is expecting the US Administration to resume its efforts next month to revive
the peace talks, another PA official said.
The official did not rule out
the possibility that the PA would agree to another round of talks with Israel in
the Jordanian capital of Amman next month.
The official predicted that
the financial crisis in the PA would end with the resumption of the peace
talks.
Meanwhile, Fatah leaders in the West Bank strongly criticized the
US Administration and the Arab countries, holding them responsible for the
financial crisis.
Abbas Zaki, member of the Fatah Central Council, said
that Washington was using the financial crisis to force the PA to agree to a
Palestinian state with temporary borders.
Another Fatah official, Ahmed
Assaf, accused the Arab countries of succumbing to US pressure by refusing to
channel funds to the PA.
On Sunday, the Arab League decided to dispatch a
delegation to some Arab capitals to discuss the severe financial crisis in the
PA.
The Arab countries recently promised the Palestinians $100 million
each month, but have thus far failed to fulfill their pledge.