By KUNA
Gaza : Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Tuesday it is possible to reach an agreement with Israel by the end of this year, but warned that Israel’s continuation in building settlements will undermine efforts in this respect.
In statements to the Palestinian radio, Erakat said if Israel continues its attacks on the Palestinians it will push the region into further violence, extremism and bloodshed instead of peace.
He noted that “the entire world knows the requirements for peace which starts with the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the borders of June 4th 1967, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and settling the issues of Jerusalem, settlements and the refugees.” The Arab initiative and the Road Map called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state to live alongside to Israel in peace, he added.
The Israeli “Peace Now” movement said yesterday that settlers in the West Bank and Jerusalem are constructing residential units, while the Jerusalem Municipality has approved the construction of 600 apartments in one of the settlements east of Jerusalem.