Palestinian leader urges Israel to end settlement construction

SANTIAGO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday urged Israel to end new settlement construction as a precondition for reviving peace negotiations.

After meeting with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Abbas told the press that Israel needed to stop the "illegal settlements in Palestinian territories."

The two leaders issued a joint statement, stating the need to "reach a fair and long-lasting peace for the Palestinian issue."

"The process must occur according to the solution of two states coexisting in peace and security," they said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday announced a 10-month freeze on the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying the move was aimed at reviving the peace talks with the Palestinians.

However, the construction freeze would not be implemented in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem and the housing construction already underway would continue.

The PNA has strongly rejected Netanyahu's plan because it does not include Jerusalem.

Abbas arrived in Chile on Tuesday night after visiting Brazil and Argentina, in a bid to seek support from the United Nations to recognize the existence of a Palestinian state. He will also visit Paraguay and Venezuela.

Chile hosts some 450,000 Palestinians, one of the largest Palestinian communities outside the Middle East.