Abbas, AL jointly dfecide on talks extension

Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas is waiting a visit with the US Barack Obama before deciding on an extension of PA-Israel negotiations.

Representative at the Arab League Mohammad Sbeih has told Ma’an that "extending negotiations ... is highly dependent on Abu Mazen’s (Abbas') visit to Washington and what will be proposed."

“Until now, (the position) is not to extended negotiations,” Sbeih said of an April deadline for agreeing a framework agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sbeih added that if Abbas wants to extend the negotiations he will propose that option to the Arab League, and it would be largely dependent on progress so far.

Sbeih explained that any deal would have to be based on the Arab Peace Initiative -- a 2002 offer by the Arab and Muslim world to recognize Israel in exchange for a just resolution on the conflict.

“There will be no (recognition of) a Jewish state”, he added, referring to a key demand by Netanyahu's negotiators.