No Talks With Israel If Construction Continues, Abbas Says

PA President Mahmoud Abbas has warned that he will discontinue talks if the construction is not stopped. Speaking to radio station Europe 1 in Arabic, he said, "We don't want to stop the talks, but if the building continues, we will have to put a stop to them". (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu must know that peace is more important than settlements."

During the interview, Abbas reportedly said, "We ask for a moratorium during negotiations, because as long as there are negotiations, there is hope".

Earlier, imprisoned Fatah official Marwan Barghouti urged the US to put pressure on Israel to stop construction if it wants the peace talks to continue. Speaking to Al-Hayat, Mr. Barghouti said that the Israeli leadership is not interested in making peace. He further added, "Without requiring Israel to return Palestinian refugees, negotiations are worthless".

According to Barghouti, Obama administration's efforts to put an end to the conflict between Israel and Palestinians has not achieved anything up till now. He then went on to explain that peace efforts won't succeed if the US continues to support Israel without putting pressure on it to "end the occupation and return to 1967 borders".

Barghouti has been sentenced to 67 years life sentences by Israel. During the interview, he also vowed to support the armed Palestinian movement against Israeli occupation.