'Two-state solution key to solving Palestinian conflict'

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators said on Saturday that the two-state solution is the key to solving the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

In a session during the World Economic Forum, Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, and former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni both said the two-state solution that leads to the creation of an independent Palestine was a key solution.

"The two-state solution that leads to the creation of a Palestinian state at the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem is the sole solution. There is no need to reinvent the wheel," Xinhua quoted Erekat as saying, as he called for ending Israeli occupation.

"We are ready to engage with Israel in peace talks. To avoid past mistakes, we want an Israeli government that wants to set on the table and discuss a map on the table for the borders of Palestine and other issues," he added.

Commenting on the issue, Livni also hailed the two-state solution.

"For Israel, peace based on a two-state solution is in the interest of Israel," she said.

She also stressed the key role of Arab states in reaching a peace deal.

The two sides expressed optimism about US President Donald Trump's efforts to strike a peace deal and stressed the importance of the upcoming American-Islamic summit in Riyadh for this issue.

In his remarks, Erekat also warned against relocating the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

"Relocating the US embassy will end the peace process and the annexation of East Jerusalem is illegal as stipulated by all international laws and resolutions," he warned, adding that East Jerusalem is an occupied territory.

--IANS

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