RAMALLAH, Aug. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called on Saturday for a resumption of peace talks after the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and northern West Bank.

    Erekat told reporters in the West Bank city of Jericho that everyone should make post-withdrawal days for peace by resuming the negotiations on final status issues, mainly Jerusalem, refugees, borders and water.

    "It is the only way to make the withdrawal part of the internationally backed roadmap plan for peace instead of an alternative to it," said Erekat.

    He urged the United States and the European Union to do utmost to stop Israel expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

    "Preventing the settlement expansion in the West Bank and in Jerusalem would reinforce the conception of the two states for two people," said Erekat.

    Israel has made commitment to freeze settlement construction in the road map plan aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel.

    Erekat said that Israel has not responded to the Palestinian demands to build and run Gaza's airport and seaport and transfer the four vacated settlements in the northern West Bank to the Palestinian control. Enditem