Erekat: If '67 lines are an illusion, peace is an illusion

Palestinian Authority negotiator says Netanyahu needs to call publicly for return to '67 lines with mutually agreed swaps to return to negotiations.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
erekat raise the roof REUTERS 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
erekat raise the roof REUTERS 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the Palestinians need to hear one line from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in order to return to the negotiating table. "There's one line," Erekat told Army Radio Monday, that "negotiations should lead to two states along 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps."
The PA, he repeated, is "waiting to see if Prime Minister Netanyahu says he accepts two states on 1967 lines with agreed swaps. Until we hear that, I think it would be a waste of time to speak about any other issue."
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Assuming the position presented by US President Barack Obama in two speeches in the past week, Erekat said, "The proposition of President Obama is two states along the basis of 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps. If [Netanyahu] accepts that, we ill move on to any other issue."
"If Netanyahu thinks that 1967 lines are an illusion, then peace for him is an illusion," he added.
Asked about the current Palestinian leadership's position on the return of refugees, Erekat said, "I don't think we should discuss the right of return here at this stage. But you know," he added, "that [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud] Abbas' position that all issues must be agreed upon with a just solution."
Pushed further for an answer on the question of refugees, he said, "This is not negotiating behavior. We talk about a negotiating formula. At the end of the day, we need to solve all issues: Jerusalem, borders, refugees."
Israelis, Erekat continued, say "that Jerusalem will not be negotiated, that no refugees will come back, and then you tell me: 'Come here , boy.'"