Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday he would be willing to resume peace negotiations with Israel should Jerusalem stop settlement construction and implement existing agreements. “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,” he said in a statement. Abbas, his office said, was “fully convinced that a just, comprehensive and lasting peace can be reached in all core issues,” leading to an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. READ MORE
