Hopes for Palestinian independence moves at Middle East talks

The Palestinian president said yesterday that he hopes an upcoming Middle East conference in France will set a timetable for independence after the UN delivered a harsh rebuke over the construction of Israeli settlements in lands claimed by the Palestinians.

Benjamin Netanyah opposes a move for dozens of countries to endorse an international framework for peace at French talks. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

Israel is meanwhile advancing plans for thousands of new homes in east Jerusalem despite the UN Security Council resolution.

The Palestinians want to make that part of the city their future capital.

The United States broke with past practice and allowed the Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a “flagrant violation” of international law.

“The decision lays the foundation for any future serious negotiation ... and it paves the way for the international peace conference slated to be held in Paris next month,” Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday in his first public remarks since the UN vote.

“We hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation,” Mr Abbas told a meeting of his Fatah party. “The [resolution] proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal.”

On 15 January days before president Barack Obama leaves office, France is expected to host a conference where dozens of countries may endorse an international framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposes such a move, saying it would undermine the negotiating process.

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly called on Mr Abbas to meet for direct talks without preconditions. Abbas has refused unless Israel first ends settlement construction.

The Palestinians claim the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians, as parts of their future state. Israel says settlements, along with other core issues like security, should be agreed upon in direct talks.

Despite the UN resolution condemning settlements, Jerusalem Municipality is set to approve thousands of new housing units in the eastern sector of the city this week.

The Jerusalem District Zoning Committee is due to convene today to discuss approving fresh construction in that part of the city, the pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom reported.

“We remain unfazed by the UN vote, or by any other entity that tries to dictate what we do in Jerusalem,” Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Meir Turgeman said.