In a press release issued on Tuesday, Nabeel Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson of the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, denounced the continuation of the Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian territories, saying that these settlement activities "will abort the American efforts aiming at reviving the peace process."
He added that the policy of settlements, and the statements of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, over continuing settlement construction are rejected and counterproductive.
He demanded that US to take a clear stance towards this settlement policy and to give the Arab and international efforts a chance to achieve security, stability and peace in the region.
The US backed Road Map peace plan signed by both the Israelis and Palestinians demands the halt of violence, and freezing of settlement construction and expansion.
Meanwhile, Olmert had affirmed on Monday that the Israeli government will continue with its settlement activities despite of all of the Palestinian and international demands.Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Dr. Saeb E'irikat, stated earlier that the negotiations cannot resume amidst the Israeli settlement activities and violations. He added that the International community represented by the Middle East peace Quartette should oblige Israel to stop its settlement activities.
