Azerbaijan, Baku, May 19 / Trend , U.Sadikhova/
Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erakat today welcomed US President Obama's unequivocal support for the establishment as an independent Palestinian state and his call for Israel to follow all international agreements, Erakat's office released.
"Palestinians welcome the United State's active reengagement in the Middle East peace process, and the President's [Barack Obama] positive support for a wide ranging regional peace," Erakat said.
On May 18, at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, U.S. President Obama again stated about a truce between the Palestinians and Israel only on the base of establishment of an independent Palestinian state, RIA Novosti reported.
Although Netanyahu supported establishment of independent governing bodies of the Palestinian Autohomy in talks with Obama , he has said nothing about the need for an independent Palestinian state.
Obama demanded Israel to abide by its Road Map obligations, including a freeze on all Israeli settlement activity.
Moving the Middle East peace process forward hinges on Israel implementing its obligations under existing agreements, Erekat said in press release. "Only a reversal in Israel's policies on the ground can restore credibility to the peace process," Erekat said. "This includes an immediate and complete freeze on all settlement activity, including all natural growth, lifting all restrictions on Palestinian movement, and an immediate end to the siege on Gaza."
"Benjamin Netanyahu missed yet another opportunity to show himself to be a genuine partner for peace following his failure to endorse the two-state solution, Erekat believes.
After the victory in the February elections, the right coalition government was formed in Israel. The coalition refused from peace negotiations with the Palestinians until the economic situation improves in the West Bank.
The Israeli prime minister repeatedly said that his strategy is based on the idea of simultaneous movement towards peace in the three equal directions - politics, economy and security.
Last month, Netanyahu demanded that the Palestinian Authority to recognize Israel as a Jewish state
However, Erekat said that the PLO has already recognized the state of Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu cannot even bring himself to endorse, let along recognize a Palestinian state.
Adding new conditions to negotiations serves no other purpose than to stall any progress forward, and to save his government from having to deal with the real issues, namely Israel's refusal to end its occupation."
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