Palestinian Prime Minster Ahmed Qurei on Saturday condemned the continuing construction of the West Bank fence, saying the barrier was sabotaging new peace efforts. "If the Israeli government says it will continue building the wall regardless of what happens then there is no need for any meeting or talks to take place [with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon]," Qurei told reporters after his weekly cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
"I am not saying this is a precondition, but I want serious positions [from the Israeli side]... This wall is a destructive wall," he said. "If they continue with it, then there is no need for anything."
Qurei, who is set to meet with Sharon on an unspecified date in the near future, spoke to reporters immediately before departing for Amman for talks with U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns.
"We want the U.S. to be involved with all its efforts in the peace process," Qureia told reporters in Ramallah on Saturday. "We hope that it has the readiness to do that." (Albawaba.com)
