MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Palestinians are ready to hold peace talks with Israel provided that the latter stops building settlements and respects the current agreements, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has stressed.
"The minute the Israeli government agrees to cease all settlement activities … and agrees to implement the signed agreements on the basis of mutual reciprocity, the Palestinian leadership stands ready to resume permanent status negotiations on the basis of international law and relevant international legality resolutions … under a specified timeframe," Abbas said in a Wednesday statement, as quoted by The Times of Israel.
The statement adds that Abbas is ready to continue to cooperate with France, which is going to convene an international peace conference next month, in order to facilitate the start of a credible peace process.
After the Six Day War in 1967, Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula. The United States has been calling on Israel to accept borders that existed before the conflict.
Palestinians seek diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. Israel has been building settlements on the occupied territories despite objection from the United Nations.
