Palestinians nix Netanyahu call to resume talks

JERUSALEM -- The Palestinians spurned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest invitation to resume peace talks Thursday, insisting the Israelis freeze settlement construction first.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu proposed to start direct talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, without any preconditions. The call followed an appeal from international mediators.

Negotiations broke down in late 2010 over settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas claimed by the Palestinians as parts of their future state. Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rdeneh, said yesterday Abbas is ready for talks only if Israel halts settlement construction and accepts its 1967 boundaries.

Netanyahu has repeatedly refused to halt settlement construction as a precondition to talks.

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza, territories claimed by the Palestinians, in 1967.

Netanyahu is to meet Tuesday with Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad, who is expected to present a letter with the Palestinian conditions for talks, but experts expect no breakthroughs.

-- AP