Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has said he is willing to resume talks on the Middle East peace process if Israel agrees to freeze the construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian land. The Palestinians say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to halt construction temporarily for ten months is totally unacceptable.

Mr Abbas made the comments at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), convened to decide how to fill a constitutional void once the presidential and parliamentary mandates expire next month.

The PLO, dominated by Fatah, represents most political Palestinian factions, but not Hamas. The PLO council is expected to decide to extend the mandates of both the president and parliament until elections can be organised to avoid complete polarisation. President Abbas said in November he did not wish to seek another term in office because of his frustrations with the US-led peace efforts and Israel's failure to compromise.

Photo Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas by ANP