Palestinians accuse Israel of destroying prospects for two-state solution with new settlements

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/palestinians-accuse-israel-of-destroying-prospects-for-two-state-solution-with-new-settlements/2012/04/09/gIQAvTwd6S_story.html

By Associated Press, Published: April 9

UNITED NATIONS — The Palestinians accused Israel on Monday of systematically destroying prospects for a two-state solution to their decades-long conflict with its continuing campaign of settlement building.

Palestinian U.N. observer Riyad Mansour sent a protest letter to the U.N. secretary-general, Security Council and General Assembly two days before the Quartet of Mideast mediators — the U.S., U.N., European Union and Russia — meets in Washington to discuss the long-stalled peace process.

Mansour said Israel’s “illegal and destructive plans” to build new settlements underscore “the dubious nature” of its claims of readiness to negotiate a peace deal.

Israeli-Palestinian talks remain frozen over Palestinian demands that Israel stop building on lands they claim, and agree to negotiate borders based on lines Israel held before capturing the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in 1967.

Israel rejects those conditions and has defied international pressure to freeze settlement construction...READ MORE