PM Fayyad urges Israel to free 2000 Palestinian detainees before peace summit

Saturday November 03, 2007 22:29 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Salaam Fayyad on Saturday urged Israel to release 2000 Palestinian political prisoners ahead of the upcoming Annapolis summit.

Palestinian PM Dr. Salaam Fayyad

In an interview with the Associated Press, Dr. Fayyad also urged the formulation and implementation of a timetable and deadline for peace talks, adding that such a move would restore confidence in the stalled peace process.

Fayyad added that the Palestinian negotiation team had asked Israel to release 2000 detainees before the summit.

Fayyad also said that if the Annapolis conference manages to re-launch a positive peace process, a deal could be reached within months, but added that as long as the conditions on the ground continue to deteriorate, the possibility of reaching a final status deal and a viable Palestinian state will become more and more distant.

Meanwhile, Israeli government spokesperson David Baker on Saturday stated that Israel is “committed to achieving a peace deal with the Palestinians”.

Baker added that Israel is committed to the two-state solution, and that is currently reviewing the issue of releasing more Palestinian detainees and the removal of roadblocks in the West Bank.

palestine | peace process | news report saed at imemc dot org