RAMALLAH, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat Friday said implementing the principle of the two-state solution is the shortest way to achieve peace in the Middle East.

    Erekat's statement was made to reporters following a meeting in Ramallah with the U.S. deputy peace envoy David Hill and U.S. Consul in Jerusalem Daniel Rubenstein.

    "We can't ignore the principle of the two-state solution and the issue of drawing the borders," said Erekat, adding the Quartet(the United States, the United Nations, Russia and EU) recognition of the two-state solution "is the shortest way to achieve peace in the region."

    Erekat's office issued a statement on Friday that Erekat had also held separate meetings with French and Japanese diplomats, and discussed the current situation of the peace process.

    He stressed that the international community has to work hard to press Israel to halt settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem "in order to resume the peace negotiations."

    The Middle East peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians had been stalled since December 2008, as Israel insisted to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank and in the occupied East Jerusalem.

    The United States, Egypt and several Arab countries have been recently exerting efforts to help the Israelis and the Palestinians overcome their differences and resume their peace talks

    The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) rejects to resume any peace talks with Israel, unless the latter completely halts settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.