Kerry urges Abbas to renew peace talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday renewed his efforts to encourage Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to reinitiate peace negotiations with Israeli leaders.

Speaking by telephone, Abbas reportedly told Kerry that Israel must freeze settlement construction and release Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention as a condition for recommencing talks.

Abbas aides said earlier in the week that the Palestinian leader expected a formal proposal to renew talks from US Secretary of State John Kerry in coming weeks.

Since taking office early this year, Kerry has devoted significant efforts to restarting peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which broke down nearly five years ago. He has visited the region four times, most recently last week, in search of a formula acceptable to both sides.

The Palestinians object to Israel’s continued settlement of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, occupied territories that they hope to make parts of a future state. Israel captured both territories in the 1967 Six Day War.

The Palestinians say they will not restart talks unless Israel halts settlement construction and accepts the pre-1967 lines as the basis for a future border.

On Thursday, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat denounced Israeli construction plans in West Bank settlements, saying the decision to advance the projects would “practically and officially destroy” Kerry’s efforts to restart peace talks, according to Palestinian Wafa news.

PA officials also denied reports that Erekat and Justice Minister and top Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni were scheduled to meet in Washington next week.

Erekat told Israel Radio that he was unaware of any such meeting, and Livni said that, while she will be in Washington next week, she is not slated to meet with Erekat.

In Jordan on Sunday, Kerry unveiled a $4 billion economic plan for the West Bank economy, which the Palestinians immediately said could be no substitute for political progress.