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Occupation magazine - Commentary Home page  back Print  Send To friend Shaath: PA wiling to resume talks on basis on 1967 borders Attila Somfalvi Ynet News 13.6.2013 http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4392006,00.html Palestinian official says PA will return to negotiating table if Netanyahu agrees to negotiate on basis of 1967 lines or if Israel freezes settlement construction RAMALLAH – The Palestinian Authority will return to the negotiating table if Israel agrees to negotiate on the basis of 1967 borders or freeze settlements and free `political prisoners`, Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said Thursday. Speaking with reporters in Ramallah, Shaath said, `We`re not demanding that settlers be removed, just that settlements not be expanded. At the current building rate in the West Bank, there won`t be a Palestinian state left.` On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would be willing to launch direct peace negotiations with the Palestinians without preconditions in order to reach a historic agreement that would end the conflict. Speaking to reporters in Warsaw he declared,`Israel is ready for the resumption of direct negotiations for peace without preconditions. I think it is time to stop squabbling over preconditions. I think we have to start peace talks immediately. My goal is to see a historic compromise that ends the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians once and for all.` `I believe that these are the elements for peace. I don`t pose them as preconditions for negotiations. I look forward to enter those negotiations without preconditions without delay. I am ready for such a peace. I hope the Palestinians are ready too,` Netanyahu declared. Shaath on his part said that if the status quo persists, there might be a wave of resistance. `We can’t guarantee we would be able to prevent another intifada,` he said. `We doing the utmost to prevent a violent uprising but an intifada doesn`t have to be violent. It`s a reaction against the status quo. We want to preserve our people`s hopes.` Palestinian Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habash said in the Ramallah meeting, `We have no other preconditions. Give us some assurance that (the talks) won`t fail. If we fail this time, there will be no more talks.` Al-Habash added that Israel`s planned changes in the Temple Mount are unacceptable. `Any change in the Temple Mount is unacceptable to the Palestinians or Arabs. I believe that such a change will push us toward a new conflict,` he said. rh Links to the latest articles in this section The US and nuclear programs in the Middle East How can Israel, Palestine return to a two-state solution? A matter of concrete debate