International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, August 24, 2010

Just a few days after an American announcement that direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are set to resume in Washington on September 2, PA officials appear to be looking for a reason to not participate in them.

"I fear that ongoing settlement activity, especially in East Jerusalem, along with other Israeli violations of international law and the roadmap will further undermine the credibility of negotiations in the eyes of my people," said PA President Mahmoud Abbas in a recent letter to EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton. "It should be noted that I have stated to (US Envoy George) Mitchell that if Israel resumes settlement activities, including in East Jerusalem, we cannot continue with negotiations."

State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters on Monday that the US rejects a Palestinian demand for a construction freeze in the West Bank before the resumption of direct peace talks with Israel.

"The issue of settlements, the issue of the moratorium... has been a topic of discussion and will be a topic of discussion when the leaders meet with Secretary Clinton on September 2," Crowley said. Another senior US official openly speculated if the PA "were not looking for excuses to pull out of the talks even before they began."

"If Israel resumes settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, including east Jerusalem, we cannot continue negotiations," PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat insisted on Monday. "The choice of the Israeli government is settlement or peace, they cannot have both. We hope that Mr. Netanyahu will choose reconciliation and not further confrontation."

Erekat added an optimistic note, saying he believed that if all goes according to plan there will be an agreement within one year.

"We heard from the Americans that if we entered into direct negotiations we will be in a better position to have the moratorium extended, whether you call that an assurance or not," Erekat said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman Mark Regev responded by saying the issue of the settlements "is one of the issues on the agenda of the talks, and has to be discussed. The fate of the settlements will be determined in a peace agreement, and that is the correct way to approach the matter."

"We are seeking to surprise the critics and the skeptics, but in order to do this we need a real partner on the Palestinian side. It is possible to succeed with a hand extended in peace, but only if someone on the other side likewise extends one," Netanyahu said on Sunday.

Copyright © 2010 International Christian Embassy Jerusalem