ISRAEL DESTROYING CHANCES FOR 2-STATE SOLUTION

Jericho, 22 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/24 January 2014 (MINA) – A senior Palestinian official said Thursday that Israel was responsible for destroying the peace process and the two-state solution.

After holding a series of meetings with foreign ministers and ambassadors, Chief PLO Negotiator Saeb Erekat said that unless the international community started holding Israel responsible for its actions, any chance for a two-state solution would be lost.

Erekat condemned ongoing Israeli settlement activity, which he said was a message from Israel to US Secretary of State John Kerry to stop making efforts toward peace, Maan News quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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He also denounced Israel’s recent airstrikes against the Gaza Strip, and warned the Israeli government of the repercussions of any military escalation. He said the strikes were also based on an Israeli policy to foil peace efforts.

Earlier Thursday, Erekat met with Australian Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanya Plibersek, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry, New Zealand’s ambassador in Turkey and Palestine Taha MacPherson, and a German delegation.

On Wednesday, Peace Now announced that Israel was planning 256 housing units in two settlements across the West Bank.

Also Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, including one accused by Israel of ordering rocket attacks.(T/P02/EP04/mirajnews.com)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)