(AP).Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas dismissed an Israeli plan to temporarily halt new construction of West Bank settlements as insufficient on Friday, saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose occupation rather than peace.
The Palestinian president said during his first visit to Venezuela that "we can't accept the current Israeli government's concept for the negotiations."
"We don't have any condition to restarting negotiations except the commitment of the two sides to the foundations of the peace operation according to the road map, and especially stopping the expansionist activities of the Israelis," Abbas told lawmakers, speaking through an interpreter.
He said Wednesday's announcement by Prime Minister Netanyahu of a 10-month halt to new construction in West Bank settlements didn't bring anything new because the occupation is going to continue in the West Bank and in Jerusalem.
The Palestinian president said during his first visit to Venezuela that "we can't accept the current Israeli government's concept for the negotiations."
"We don't have any condition to restarting negotiations except the commitment of the two sides to the foundations of the peace operation according to the road map, and especially stopping the expansionist activities of the Israelis," Abbas told lawmakers, speaking through an interpreter.
He said Wednesday's announcement by Prime Minister Netanyahu of a 10-month halt to new construction in West Bank settlements didn't bring anything new because the occupation is going to continue in the West Bank and in Jerusalem.