Palestinians demand Israel's clarification over remarks on peace process

The Palestinian leadership on Monday demanded clarification from Israel after an Israeli minister said the idea of establishing a Palestinian state had " reached a dead end." The remarks by Naftali Bennett, Israeli economy and trade minister, "were dangerous and indicate a message of rejection to efforts of reviving the peace process," said Nabil Abu Rdineh, spokesperson of the Palestinian Presidency. "Israel's biggest problem regarding Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) was and remains to be lack of willingness by its leaders to say in a simple way that the land of Israel belongs to the people of Israel," Bennett said. Abu Rdineh said such statements coincide with the Israeli government's continuation of settlement constructions and evading the implementation of any commitments. He added that the remarks of the Israeli minister were a challenge to the United States which has been trying to restart peace talks between the two sides since March. Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians stopped in 2010 over a dispute on the building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.