PA denies reports of negotiations with Israel

The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Friday denied reports of negotiations with Israel after Haaretz newspaper said that Saeb Erekat and Shimon Peres had been meeting in an attempt to relaunch talks. In a statement released by PA presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, quoted by Palestine’s WAFA news agency , PA said it is "committed to the Palestinian and Arab positions that say any negotiations should be clear and based on international resolutions." "If Israel accepts these principles, we do not see any problem with negotiations," the statement added. "Because there are no negotiations and Israel refuses to hold serious talks that would commit it to halting settlements within the 1967 borders, the Palestinian and Arab stance is to go to the United Nations and Security Council to demand recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders and to become an official member of the UN," it said.