PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) announced on Wednesday that the diplomatic process with Israel is “frozen” until there is a change in Israel’s aggressiveness, PA media reports.

He cited the checkpoints throughout Yehuda and Shomron, which create “mini prisons” as well as the government’s policies vis-à-vis the “settlements, Jerusalem and the surrounding areas”.

The Fatah leader stated that as a result, negotiations are suspended until such time these policies are modified and there are guarantees from the United States or another source that give the PA assurances as to the change.

During his Wednesday meeting in Ramallah with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Abu Mazen enjoyed an attentive ear, as the new senior American official expressed her agreement with the PA, opposing plans to raze illegal Arab buildings in the Jerusalem area.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)