Ahead of Abbas-Olmert meeting, the PFLP calls for halting peace talks

Tuesday December 25, 2007 20:32 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), demanded Tuesday the Palestinian Authority to stop underway Palestinian-Israeli talks, branding the talks 'aimless'.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert/ archive photo

A PFLP's spokesperson said in a statement, faxed to press, "The continuation of rounds of Israeli-PA negotiations take place amidst increasing Israeli settlements building on the occupied Palestinian territories, while the entire world is watching".

The statement added "these negotiations also happen whilst Israeli army actions, whether the ongoing blockade of Gaza or the assassination attempts of Palestinian fighters, go unabated"

Accordingly, the PFLP demands the Palestinian Authority to halt all such 'aimless' talks with Israel, and make the international community aware of their responsibility towards the Palestinian people's suffering, demanded the statement.

Such a call comes as Palestinian President Mahmoud, whose government has been
negotiating with the Israeli side for the past three weeks, called on Israel yesterday
to stop all underway settlement activities, particularly on the occupied east Jerusalem.

Abbas is expected to meet later this week with Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, within current Israeli-Palestinian peace drive, Washington has launched since during last month's U.S-hosted Annapolis summit.

The PFLP, a leftist large PLO-linked faction, has opposed the Annapolis conference, which aimed at reviving a seven-year-long stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

palestine | palestinian politics | news report rami at imemc dot org