PA unaware of new EU plan to revive peace talks

PA statement follows report that EU is preparing a "detailed political plan" to jump-start Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Chief PLO negotiator Erekat 370 (photo credit: REUTERS/NIR ELIAS)
Chief PLO negotiator Erekat 370
(photo credit: REUTERS/NIR ELIAS)
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.