ISRAEL CALLS FOR EXTENSION OF PEACE TALKS BEYOND DEADLINE

Press TV File photo shows Acting Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Washington. Tel Aviv, 30 Jumadil Awwal 1435/31 March 2014 (MINA) – Israeli occupation authority has called for an extension of talks with the Palestinian Authority (PA) after the April 29 expiry of a nine-month deadline for the two sides to reach a deal.

According to Palestinian sources, Israel has presented Palestinian Authority Acting Chief Mahmoud Abbas with a draft agreement to push forward with the talks.

No details of the proposal have yet been released, according to Press TV report quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Meanwhile, Washington has been trying to induce the two sides to accept a framework proposal that would extend the talks beyond the deadline.

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The US-sponsored talks are teetering on the brink of collapse over a dispute about the fate of 26 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The inmates were supposed to be released this weekend under the original terms agreed to relaunch the so-called peace talks between the PA and Tel Aviv. But Israel informed Palestinians on Friday that it would not release the prisoners.

On March 25, Abbas blamed Tel Aviv for sabotaging talks, saying that the Israeli regime is not willing to end its occupation of Palestinian territories.

In his speech at the 25th Arab League summit in Kuwait, Abbas said Tel Aviv has been adding new demands during the negotiations, including the recognition of Israel as a “Jewish state” and the continuation of its settlement expansion plans.

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The last round of negotiations between the two sides broke down in 2010 after the Israeli regime refused to halt its settlement construction on Palestinian land. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)