World support for peace meaningless if it doesn't press Israel to halt settlements

The international community's support for the peace process is meaningless so long as there is no real pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad told visiting European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Friday.

During his meeting with Solana in Ramallah, Fayyad said Israel's continued building in the settlements is a blatant violation of international law, according to Israel Radio.

Solana also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who updated him on the status of peace negotiations with Israel. The Palestinian leader reiterated his opposition to any partial agreement or interim deal with Israel, Israel Radio reported.

Any future agreement must include resolutions to the core issues of the conflict, including the status of Jerusalem, the future borders, and the right of return for Palestinian refugees, Abbas told Solana.

Israel Radio reported that Abbas conferred by telephone with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday. The Palestinian leader is due in Washington for a meeting with President Bush later this month... Haaretz