The Palestinian foreign minister has denied media reports claiming that an agreement has been reached to resume peace talks with Israel early next year. Riyad Al-Maliki described the reports as “untrue” in remarks made on Palestinian radio on Tuesday morning.
He reiterated that the Palestinian position regarding the resumption of talks is clear and was expressed by President Mahmoud Abbas in his recent UN speech.
The conditions for a resumption of talks include the release of the fourth patch of veteran prisoners and for Israel to halt all settlement construction, as well as for a commitment for the talks to lead unambiguously to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.