Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al Maliki lobbied on Friday for international help to protect the new round of peace talks with Israel in the face of what he said were Israeli attempts to 'derail' the negotiations.| They screech loudest about the things they do themselves. They're sorta like Democrats in that way... |
He said he hoped the international community, including the European Union, could help to ensure the talks were "continuous, serious and results-oriented".
Maliki said he counted on EU member Bulgaria -- a country with close ties to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority -- to convey his message to the European Union.
Israelis and Palestinians began a new round of direct peace talks on Wednesday in Jerusalem after a nearly three-year break. The negotiations were however overshadowed by Israel's announcement of plans to build 2,000 new settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem and elsewhere in the West Bank, infuriating Palestinian officials.
"If you want to go with good faith into the resumption of talks... you do not go and announce publicly that you insist on building further illegal settlement units in the Palestinian occupied territories," Maliki said.
| Did it motivate to settle down and negotiate? No? Okay, Bibi, build another 2,000 units... |