Hamdallah calls on US to end Israeli obstruction of peace

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah Monday called on the United States to increase pressure on Israel, which persists to act in a way that obstructs all efforts made by US Secretary of State John Kerry to achieve peace. Hamdallah, in a meeting with a US delegation headed by member of the Democratic Party and Senator Chris Coons, discussed the latest developments regarding the peace process and Kerry’s related efforts. Hamdallah asked the delegation to carry a message to the US administration, in which he affirmed the importance to continue efforts to resume negotiations. He made it clear that such step must go hand in hand with Israel's halt of all violations of Palestinians’ rights such as settlement construction, referring to a recent decision to build 900 settlement units in Abu Ghanim mountain in occupied Jerusalem. “Why does Israel approve new settlement projects each time US officials visit the region and US efforts are resumed to achieve peace?” questioned Hamdallah. On its part, the delegation affirmed US administration’s support to the Palestinian government and US’s keenness to make Kerry’s mission to launch peace in the area a success.