The Palestinians’ chief peace negotiator warned that violence could erupt if talks fail.
In a message to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Israel’s chief negotiator and the newly elected leader of the ruling Kadima Party, Ahmed Qureia called the violence such as suicide bombing attacks “legitimate.”
The message came Tuesday shortly after what was billed as a routine meeting between Qureia and Livni.
Qureia said he received assurances from Livni that talks will continue as she forms a new government.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian official on Tuesday told Israel Radio that there was no point in continuing to negotiate with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert since he does not have a mandate to sign an agreement. The official said that Qureia did not go to the United States with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas this week because he was opposed to continuing the negotiations with Olmert in his lame-duck status.
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