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Оfficial: PA talks with Israel in a deep coma

Arab World Materials 19 December 2010 08:52 (UTC +04:00)
A Palestinian Authority (PA) official has said the process of direct talks with Israel is “in a deep coma," adding US efforts to jumpstart the negotiations are useless, PressTV reported.
Оfficial: PA talks with Israel in a deep coma

A Palestinian Authority (PA) official has said the process of direct talks with Israel is "in a deep coma," adding US efforts to jumpstart the negotiations are useless, PressTV reported.

"I don't think we are to resume the negotiations soon," Nabil Shaath told journalists in the West Bank town of Beit Sahur, east of Bethlehem, AFP reported.

"The peace process is in a deep coma.... I don't think anyone wants to continue this negotiation," he further explained.

On September 2, the United States enticed the PA into face-to-face negotiations with Israel despite strong opposition from the Palestinian public and major factions that expressed fears the US-sponsored talks would again lead to more concessions in favor of Tel Aviv.

However, the direct talks broke off after Israel defied international calls to extend a partial freeze on its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The resumption of construction projects after the 10-month moratorium, which expired on September 26, prompted PA negotiators to quit the talks.

"There is no more credibility to this negotiation process. This is an exercise in futility, ridiculous...," Shaath noted.

Earlier in December, Washington finally admitted to its failure to persuade Israel to halt its settlement construction on Palestinian land and proposed indirect talks on core issues.

The Palestinian side has repeatedly said it will not resume the negotiations with Tel Aviv unless a halt is announced on settlement building.

Meanwhile, obstacles posed by Israel on the way to a Middle East agreement has resulted in growing support for a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.

Bolivia joined Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay on Friday in recognizing Palestine as "an independent and sovereign state" within the borders before the occupation of Palestinian territories in 1967.

The move has seriously annoyed Israel and its closest ally and traditional guardian, the United States.

The US House of Representatives had publicly condemned unilateral measures to declare or recognize a Palestinian state.

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