Abbas ready for direct talks with Israel

Former Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas said he was ready to go into direct negotiations with Israel on condition of progress in the issues of security and borders, which are being discussed under indirect negotiations. He made the statement two days after the Zionist Likud party endorsed continuation of settlement activity in the West Bank. In statements to reporters in Ramallah, Abbas said, We said and we say that if there is progress from here to the end of the period which the Arab League [four months] fixed, if there is any progress in the basic issues that we presented to the US administration, then we have no objection to go to direct negotiations. Commenting on the Zionist Likud partys endorsement to continue to settle in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, Abbas said, I dont care what the Likud or others say. What concerns me is what is happening on the ground, which is what I deal with. It doesnt concern me to deal with voices here and there. Professor Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at An-Najah National University, said concerning the PA-Israeli negotiations, The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) has achieved significant gains during the negotiations, including the PA understanding of the IOA security needs. Dr Qassem said in a statement to the PIC on Saturday, The IOA did not put forth anything in the negotiations, but instead built a wall and expanded settlement activity. He sarcastically mentioned some IOA humanitarian gestures, such as taking down a barrier then installing another, and the release of some prisoners.