Abbas reasserts preconditions before any move to direct talks

Jul 26, 2010, 17:50 GMT

Amman - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday insisted on Israel's recognition of the 1967 lines as borders for the future Palestinian state and the cessation of settlement activity as a pre-condition for going to direct talks.

'The Palestinians are ready to go to direct negotiations and we went to such talks more than once in the past, but there should be a reference for this,' Abbas told reporters after discussions with Jordan's King Abdullah II.

'This reference focuses on two things - the 1967 borders and halting settlement building - and then the direct talks will be possible and even very possible,' he said.

Israel and the Palestinians have been involved in US-brokered proximity talks over the past three months apparently without achieving tangible progress.

US President Barack Obama is reportedly pushing Abbas and other moderate Arab leaders to endorse transition to direct talks.

A partial Israeli moratorium on fresh settlement building in the West Bank is due to expire on September 26.

The issue is expected to be high on the agenda of Saudi King Abdullah when he visits Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan later this week, diplomats said.