Erekat: Israel settler plans 'message' to Kerry not to return

Israeli plans unveiled Friday to build over 1,800 settler homes are a signal to US not to pursue the 'peace' talks, a senior PA negotiator said.

"The new settlement construction plan is a message from (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to (US Secretary of State John) Kerry not to come back to the region to continue his efforts" in Israeli-PA talks, Saeb Erekat told AFP.

"Every time Kerry has stepped up his efforts, returning to the region (for more talks), Netanyahu has stepped up his efforts to destroy the peace process," Erekat said.

"Netanyahu is determined to destroy the two-state solution. It is high time we hold Israel accountable for its crimes," he added.

The Israeli housing ministry announced the plans for 1,076 new settlement units in the occupied al-Quds ('Jerusalem') and 801 in the occupied West Bank, said the Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now.

The move comes a week after Kerry visited the region in his latest effort to push Israeli and PA leaders towards an elusive compromise deal.