Palestinians despair over resuming talks before settlement freeze

RAMALLAH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official on Friday warned that the U.S. attempts to resume the stalled peace negotiations with Israel before the latter halts settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, including the natural growth, would leave the Palestinians in despair.

Jibril Rajoub, member of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah party's central committee said in a press statement sent to reporters, accused the Administration of U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday that "it began to deviate from the terms of reference of the International peace."

"Israel and everyone should know that peace negotiations with Israel would never be resumed before approving all these references. Halting settlement, in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and recognizing the vision of the two-state solution, are our conditions," said Rajoub.

Abbas and George Mitchell, the U.S. peace envoy to the Middle East held on Friday talks in Ramallah and discussed the stalled peace process. but Mitchell did not say whether he managed to convince Israel to halt settlement, while only focusing on the resumption of the peace talks.

"We discussed our common vision of a viable and independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton are deeply committed to that," Mitchell told reporters in a joint news conference in Ramallah with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Erekat told reporters that President Abbas reiterated to Mitchell on the Palestinian stance that Israel should be committed to the Roadmap plan for peace in the Middle East.

"If Israel wants to resume the peace talks, it should first express clear commitment to implementing the roadmap plan, which include stopping settlement and be committed to the two-sate solution," said Erekat.

Mitchell held earlier talks on Friday with hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Netanyahu office said in a statement after the meeting that it was constructive and would help the peace process.