Sa’eb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, told the official Voice of Palestine radio, “Netanyahu knows well what he needs to do to kick off direct talks.” “Settlement freeze is the solution,” Erekat said.

On Tuesday, Netanyahu called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to immediately start direct peace talks.

Netanyahu said in a press statement that Israel has taken steps to advance peace, such as removing roadblocks in the West Bank and imposing a freeze on building in Jewish settlements.

Erekat added that the Palestinian leadership does not oppose direct talks with Israel, “but Netanyahu needs to reveal his stance toward the issue of settlement activity in the West bank and Jerusalem,” he added.

The US administration had proposed the four-month proximity talks between Israel and the PA after it failed to bridge the gap between the two sides concerning the issue of settlement activities. The PA demands a full cessation of all settlement activities in West Bank and East Jerusalem, including the natural growth of settlements.

The direct peace talks between the two parties stopped when Israel waged a three-week military offensive in Gaza between December 2008 and January 2009.