Palestinians

1. Israel completely stops settlement building

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said it wants Israel to completely stop Jewish settlement in the occupied territories rather than renew a temporary freeze of construction.

When the PNA talks about settlement freeze, "it means a comprehensive suspension of all settlement activities in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem," Saeb Erekat, a chief negotiator, has said.

Despite the resumption of the direct talks, Abbas would withdraw from the talks immediately if Israel resumed Jewish settlement activities in the occupied West Bank.

During a meeting for the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Ramallah this week,"Abbas pledged to withdraw immediately if Israel announced new plans to build settlements," Hana Amira, a member of the committee, said.

2. Hamas rejects

The Islamic Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip rejected an international invitation for Israel and the Palestinian National Authority to resume direct negotiations.

The call by Washington and the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators "is a new attempt to exert trickery against the Palestinian people," Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said.