Arab League demands US guarantees
The Arab League has declined to endorse an immediate resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, saying it needs further guarantees from the United States before approving talks.
The Arab League said at a meeting in Cairo yesterday that it agreed in principle to the direct talks, but only subject to certain "measures and conditions".
"There is agreement, but [it is] agreement over the principles of what will be discussed and the manner of the direct negotiations," Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, the Qatari foreign minister, said.
Amr Moussa, the Arab League secretary-general, said that direct negotiations must be preceded by "written guarantees" from the United States, particularly on the subject of Israeli settlements.
"We are not against negotiations," Moussa said. "But... we cannot accept talks with no preconditions."
Abbas wants a guarantee that the Israeli government will completely halt settlement construction in occupied east Jerusalem and the West Bank.
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