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Erekat: 'Palestinians will give US more time to relaunch peace talks'
The Palestinians will give the United States several more weeks to try to relaunch direct peace talks with Israel, but will not buckle on their key demand for a halt to Israeli settlement activity, a top Palestinian official said on Thursday.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that an Arab League decision on Oct. 9 giving the United States one month to persuade Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop settlements could slip - but that the core demand would remain unchanged.
"They're saying that efforts may need two or three more weeks," Erekat told reporters after a meeting with U.S. Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell in Washington.
"If the Americans needed two more weeks they can have the two more weeks," Erekat said. "We're waiting to hear from the Americans and there is no reason to convene the Arab follow-up committee until we hear what the Americans have to offer."