RAMALLAH, March 31 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei on Thursday urged the international community to carry out practical steps in starting serious peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

    Qurei said the start of peace negotiations should be conditionedon Israel's ending of the military occupation of the Palestinian lands and that the talks can eventually lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

    "Peace talks should be based on international resolutions and the roadmap and should lead to the end of the occupation," said Qurei.

    In addition, the prime minister slammed the Israeli constructionof the separation wall in the West Bank and around Jerusalem, calling it "the wall of disgrace."

    Qurei also criticized Israel for expanding Jewish settlements inthe West Bank, saying the Israeli settlement expansion and annexation of Palestinian lands are illegitimate.

    Last week, media reports revealed that Israel plans to build 3,500 residential units on occupied West Bank land that will link a Jewish settlement bloc with Jerusalem.

    The Palestinians want the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for an independent state with East Jerusalem as the capital.

    Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Naser al-Qedwa echoed Qurei's views, saying peace talks with Israel can be possible only if the Jewish state abides by the roadmap peace plan and stops building settlements.

    "We cannot imagine a serious peace process as Israel continues the expansion of settlements. We announced the calmness with the hope to give negotiations a chance but Israel is going in the opposite direction," said Qedwa.

    Palestinian factions pledged to observe calmness with Israel till the year end at the inter-Palestinian dialogue held in mid March in Egypt provided that Israel stops violence against the Palestinians.

    Apparently worried about the US support of Israel to grip the large settlements in the West Bank, the foreign minister also urgedthe key mediator in the Mideast peace process to be committed to the provisions of international law and the roadmap.

    The US administration has publicly pledged support for Israel's intention to retain settlement blocs in the West Bank after withdrawing from the smaller and volatile Gaza Strip this summer. Enditem