Erekat: Mofaz wants to meets Abbas

PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat said that Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz asked to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The request is being discussed and no date for the meeting has been set so far, Erekat added. He denied in a statement to Palestine Voice Radio reports on arrangements for a meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that no arrangements have been made in this regard so far. Erekat stressed the Palestinian Authority's stance regarding Israel's halt of settlement policy and release of prisoners in order to resume negotiations with Israel. He also denied media reports about a possible visit by U.S. Middle East Peace envoy David Hale to the region in the next few days.