RAMALLAH, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday told visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Welch the Palestinians were outraged at the latest Israeli orders of lands confiscation.
In a statement sent to the press, Erekat said that he expressed in his meeting with Welch Palestinians' serious concern over Israel's latest "highly provocative" confiscation of Palestinian lands near East Jerusalem.
Erekat also expressed to Welch hope that the United States "would secure Israel's compliance with its Road Map obligation to immediately freeze all settlement activity."
Welch is scheduled to meet with both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to follow up the latest developments of recent talks between the two sides kicked off on Monday.
He is here also for the preparation work for the U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's visit to the region next week.
Israel ordered to annex 1,100 dunams (1.03 million square meters) of Palestinian lands for the construction of an "alternate" road for Palestinians linking the southern West Bank with its eastern and northern parts.
"Israel continues to confiscate land and expand settlements at the same time that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are meeting to draft an agreement addressing core issues for ending the conflict between them," said Erekat.
