A spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday expressed pessimism about the continuation of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, blaming Israel's refusal to halt building in West Bank settlements for the impasse in negotiations.
Nabil Abu Rudineh, speaking after a meeting between Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, added that the Egyptians agreed with the Palestinian viewpoint that the peace talks cannot resume as long as Israel continues building in the settlements.
The presidential spokesman stated that the Palestinians have heard no news from the US about a potential compromise that would allow for the two sides to return to the negotiating table.
