RAMALLAH, June 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Tuesday that peace can't be achieved as long as Israel keeps Arab East Jerusalem it occupied in 1967 Mideast war under its control.

    Erekat's comments came in response to remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who had said during his recent visit to Washington that Jerusalem will always stay with Israel.  

    "Peace will never be achieved when we are still talking about Palestinian properties that were occupied by force," he  told Palestinian radio "voice of Palestine".

    He asserted that the Palestinian presence in the city represented by residents, history and religion will prevent Israel from executing its plans aiming at seizing the whole Jerusalem.  

    The Palestinians want to establish a viable independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.  

    Erekat, meanwhile, called on the Quartet committee to send international observers to prevent Israel from reoccupying the Gaza strip after pullout this summer under its unilateral disengagement plan.  Enditem