100 states back anti-Israeli resolution

Chief Palestinian Authority (PA) negotiator Saeb Erekat says more than 100 countries will support a resolution at the UN Security Council against Israeli settlement projects.

Speaking to Ma’an news agency on Thursday, Erekat also rejected the reports that the PA would postpone the resolution.

On Tuesday, Palestinian resolution against illegal Israeli settlement buildings in the occupied Palestinian territories was formally put to the Security Council.

The resolution would condemn Israel’s settlement activities and reiterate an existing UN demand for all building work in the occupied territories to stop.

Erekat also denied reports that he will hold meeting with Israeli officials about the issue, describing the reports as Tel Aviv’s media “propaganda” to placate the Israeli public.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Erekat accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of closing the door to negotiation by going ahead with backing settlement constructions.

Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority once again reached a deadlock in September after Tel Aviv refused to extend a partial moratorium on settlement constructions in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinians argue that the continuation of settlement activities reduces the chance of establishing an independent Palestinian state.