Palestinian PM urges Washington's pressure on Israel

RAMALLAH, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Sunday called on the United States to oblige Israel to take steps to pave the way for resuming stalled peace talks.

Washington should take "tangible political movement" to stop the Israeli settlement, raids in the Palestinian-controlled areas and restrictions on the movement of goods and individuals, Fayyad said.

Fayyad made his remarks at the reception of U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew at his office in Ramallah.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stopped in December 2008 when Israel launched a military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Citing the continuation of settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) refused to resume direct negotiations with Israel after the end of Gaza war.

Fayyad recalled an earlier, unilateral plan he announced to " create positive facts on the ground and continue the building of the (future) Palestinian state's foundations."

Under Fayyad's plan, the PNA will unilaterally prepare itself for a possible international recognition of a Palestinian statehood. As talks mark time, the PNA plans to resort to the UN Security Council to grab the Palestinian statehood's recognition.