Palestinian FM: Abbas keen on informing Arab ministers of talks updates

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki affirmed on Sunday the president's keenness on explaining to the Arab countries the latest developments in the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. "President Mahmoud Abbas explained the situation to the Arab foreign ministers during the Cairo meeting so not to have the American administration as the sole source of information," Maliki said in statements today. During the meeting held on Saturday, the Arab ministers called on the US to shoulder its responsibility and to oblige Israel to halt all settlement activities till a final settlement is reached, added the foreign minister. He also said that the US administration has not presented any official document to clarify its stand. "That is why we cannot say we accept or reject the American proposal which we actually didn't receive," Maliki added. In an exceptional ministerial meeting held in the Arab League, the Arab countries reaffirmed overwhelming support for the Palestinians in their negotiations with the Israelis with the objective of establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Arab Foreign Ministers held an urgent one-day meeting Saturday at the request of Palestine to discuss the US-sponsored peace talks and the time frame of the negotiations. Arab League Secretary General Nabil el-Arabi and Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammad Abdulaziz, chair of the meeting, reiterated support to the Palestinian side during negotiations with Israel. In a joint press conference following the foreign ministers' meeting, the two officials said the negotiations should lead to the establishment of the independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.