(VOVworld) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority Reyad el-Malki said on Tuesday that there are no organized official political meetings between Palestinians and Israel.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki (Photo: Issam Rimawi)

The statement followed a reported meeting between Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat and Israeli Interior Minister Silvan Shalom in Jerusalem last month.  Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which were sponsored by the US, stopped after Palestine announced the establishment of a new unity government with Hamas. Palestine accused Israel of stagnating the peace process and criticized Israel for continuing its construction of settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem on land expected to be part of the future Palestinian state.