'Talks to continue if settlement building remains frozen'

Mahmoud Abbas says he is not prepared to negotiate an agreement for a "single day more" if Israel does not extended the construction moratorium.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
311_Sharm talks, Netanyahu and Abbas (photo credit: Moshe Milner / GPO)
311_Sharm talks, Netanyahu and Abbas
(photo credit: Moshe Milner / GPO)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that he will not participate "for a single day" in US brokered peace negotiations if Israel does not extended the settlement construction moratorium, AFP reported.
"The negotiations will continue as long as the settlement (construction) remains frozen, but I am not prepared to negotiate an agreement for a single day more," Abbas told AFP reporters.
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Abbas said he is "not opposed to a settlement freeze for a month or two" and that it may be likely "to conclude a peace deal on all final status issues if the settlement freeze is extended," he said as he was on his way to New York.
"If Israel stops the settlement and shows goodwill, then we can reach an agreement on borders and security, and agreement on other matters like the status of Jerusalem, water and settlements will follow," Abbas explained.
Abbas also restated that the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails should be part of the current peace talks.
The Palestinian leader is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this week about "efforts to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land since 1967 to create an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said.