‘Israel solely to blame for talks’ collapse’

The Palestinian Authority’s Dr. Saeb Erekat, a PLO executive committee member and head of the Negotiations Affairs Department, says Israel bears sole responsibility for the collapse of the truce talks in Cairo yesterday.

“The Israeli government are [sic] the only side responsible for the collapse,” he tells the Voice of Palestine in an interview, a transcript of which was sent out to the press.

“The Israeli delegation came to Cairo to blackmail us, not to reach ceasefire. [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is sabotaging every effort as he did always,” he adds.

Erekat says the solution to the situation in Gaza requires an international effort.

“Gaza needs a joint international effort led by the Americans and the European providing aid and support to Gaza, in addition to international protection by the UN; this should be dealt with through the Security Council immediately…Strategically speaking we want an end to the occupation, so we are trying now to have an international effort through the UN to end the occupation, and establish a Palestinian sovereign state; this is the only way out of this conflict,” he says.