Скачать или смотреть Palestinian leader Abbas meets German Chancellor Merkel; sbite

(1 Feb 2010) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at news conference
2. Cutaway of media
3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President:
"We believe in peaceful resistance, which is approved by international laws. This has nothing to do with the issue of negotiations; if Israel stops settlement construction for a certain period, and there is a clear vision about the terms of reference, then we will be prepared to resume these negotiations."
4. Wide of news conference
5. Abbas and Merkel shaking hands, pull out to wide as they leave
STORYLINE
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday that he was prepared to return to peace negotiations if Israel agreed to stop the building of settlements "for a certain period."
Abbas made the comments at a news conference in Berlin after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We believe in peaceful resistance, which is approved by internatioan laws. This has nothing to do with the issue of negotiations; if Israel stops settlement construction for a certain period, and there is a clear vision about the terms of reference, then we will be prepared to resume these negotiations," Abbas told reporters.
The Palestinian had earlier demanded Israel first declare a total freeze of construction on lands the Palestinians claim for a future state.
On Monday however, the Palestinians signalled they were willing to scale back their demands for an Israeli settlement freeze, from six months to three months.
Israel has agreed to slow down construction in the West Bank for 10 months, but not in east Jerusalem, the disputed section of the city claimed by both sides.
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said on Monday that Israel would go no further.
To break the impasse, the US has proposed that US envoy George Mitchell shuttle between the two sides to try to forge a deal.
Merkel, in previous months, has underlined her country''s desire to see Israel stop building its controversial settlements.

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