PLO secretary-general denied reports that Palestinian leaders would hold talks with the Zionist entity without a freeze on illegal settlement building

The PLO secretary-general denied on Thursday reports that Palestinian leaders would hold talks with the Zionist entity without a freeze on illegal settlement building.

Yasser Abed Rabbo told Ma'an that President Mahmoud Abbas's conditions for negotiations -- a halt to settlement expansion on Palestinian lands, and a clear time frame for ending Israel's occupation -- had not wavered.

The PLO chief said Palestinian officials do not have knowledge of Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's comments to Israel Radio earlier on Thursday, where he said talks would soon resume based on a proposal of the Middle East Quartet.

Russia, the US, United Nations and European Union -- members of the diplomatic Quartet on Middle East “peace” -- launched a bid to bring the sides back to negotiations as President Mahmoud Abbas submitted Palestine's application for membership of the UN in September. The proposal included a return to negotiations within a month, credible terms on borders and security in three months, and a deal by the end of 2012.

Abed Rabbo said the initiative did include provisions on settlements, but Israel declined to commit to them.