The continuation of direct peace talks with Israel, depends on whether Israel will keep freezing Jewish settlement constructions. Palestinian National Authority, President Mahmoud Abbas said this in New York, where he'll attend meetings of the 65th UN General Assembly.
The United States is pressing Israel and the Palestinians to reach an agreement on continuing the peace talks and finding a compromise over the settlement issue. Asked about Israel's insistence that the Palestinians should recognize it as a Jewish state, Abbas said the Palestinians are committed to the text of the Oslo agreement.
Under the agreement, the Palestine Liberation Organization recognizes Israel's right to exist and Israel recognizes the PLO as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinians.
Earlier on Monday, the Israeli government urged the Palestinians to relax their demand that a freeze on new Jewish settlements be extended past its planned weekend expiry. Palestinian officials quickly rejected the idea.