Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    RAMALLAH, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurei Tuesday said that the Israeli decision to build mor ehousing units near East Jerusalem was a hurdle on the road of peace process.

    Speaking to reporters following his meeting with international Quartet for Middle East envoy Tony Blair, Qurei said that "Jewish settlements are unaccepted and illegal from the first stone to the last one."

    He considered the decision to build 750 new housing units in a settlement as "a slap on the peace process face and the international efforts, which are trying to make peace credible." The recent military escalation in the Gaza Strip dealt a setback blow to the newly revived peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel.

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas instructed Qurei following Israeli offensive against Gaza to sever the talks with Israeluntil Israel stops its military offensive against Gaza.Blair, on his part, discussed with Qurei the possibilities of resuming the Israeli-Palestinian talks on permanent status issues. Earlier Tuesday, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the Palestinians are not intending to resume the peace negotiations,"until Israel annul its decision to build more housing units in the settlements around Jerusalem."