By NNN-KUNA
Ramallah : A three-way meeting between Palestinian, Israeli and American officials was held in Jerusalem Friday but Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak did not show up and sent a representative.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyadh, Israeli defense ministry’s senior strategist Amos Gilad and US General William Fraser, who chaired the meeting, discussed security and economic issues concerning the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
This is the first meeting since the US-sponsored Annapolis conference, which was held in Maryland last November.
Fayyadh said after the meeting the Israeli settlement policies were undermining the creation of the Palestinian state.
He said the freezing of settlements should be decisive. He criticized Israel for failing to abide by its commitment in the roadmap, namely the halt of settlements. Israel has recently announced plans to build 750 housing units.
Talking about the Palestinian side, Fayyadh said “we have commitments in governance, administration and security, and we are carrying out big and steady efforts on that front despite the Israeli incursions and assaults, and settlement activities.”