By Xinhua,
Amman : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said no achievement has been made in talks with Israel and called for more American pressure on Israel, according to a statement Xinhua obtained Tuesday.
Abbas said during Monday’s meeting with Secretary General of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) Nayef Hawatmeh in Amman that the negotiations have not made any progress on issues of Jerusalem, border, settlements, refugees and political prisoners or peace and security, reported the statement issued by DFLP.
The Palestinian president called on the United States to respect international law and resolutions, and to pressure the Israeli government for serious negotiations towards a comprehensive solution by the end of 2008.
He was partly referring to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s expansion policy in the West Bank and Jordan River Valley, and the takeover of Jerusalem, observers said.
Meanwhile, Hawatmeh called on Abbas to halt negotiations until the Israelis cease settlement activity and aggression.
He also called for “joint management in high political negotiations under the roof of the resolutions of international legitimacy and a national unity currently absent due to the larger internal division.”
The DFLP leader also pointed out that the calm between the Palestinians and Israel) must include all occupied territories and receive sponsorship from international forces in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Egypt proposed a six-month ceasefire in the Gaza Strip with an aim to lift the Israeli embargo and stop the military operations which increased after Hamas took over Gaza by force nearly one year ago, which has been agreed by Palestinian groups including Hamas but is still awaiting the Israeli response.
According to the proposal, a ceasefire, if agreed upon, will be effective first in Gaza.
Hawatmeh said that Gaza cannot agree to calm if it does not include the West Bank.