By DPA
Ramallah (Palestine) : Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat Saturday ruled out announcing Palestinian statehood in 2008.
“In 2008, we expect a peace deal specifying the core final-status issues and how to begin dealing with them,” he told reporters.
The Palestinian Authority, which renewed peace talks with Israel last month, is counting on a US role in pushing the slow negotiations.
“The success to reach such a deal is subject to the Israeli government’s capability to stop the settlement buildings, remove checkpoints, stop the offensive and engage in serious negotiations,” Erekat said.
He added that US President George W. Bush, who ended a three-day visit to the region Friday, announced the activation of a US, Israeli and Palestinian committee to oversee the implementation of the peace plan that ends with a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Israel and the Palestinian Authority launched peace negotiations on Dec 12 after participating in a US hosted peace conference in late November.
The Palestinians were hoping to announce their statehood this year.