(CNN) — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned Saturday that peace talks would not move forward “as long as Israel maintains its settlement policy,” continuing the rift in the region that began this month with Israel’s intent to build housing in disputed territory.
The remarks came at the Arab Summit in the Libyan city of Sirte, where many leaders echoed Abbas’ views.
The Arab League’s Secretary-General, Amr Moussa, asked Arab states to prepare for “the possibility of the peace process’ complete failure.”
“It’s time to face Israel. We have to have alternative plans because the situation has reached a turning point,” Moussa said.
The conference — titled “Summit for Supporting a Steadfast Jerusalem” — gathered 14 Arab heads of state, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Italian Prime Minister Slivio Berlusconi, among other guests.
In an address before the leaders, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a guest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, described the Israeli position as “madness” and said if Israel insists on building in East Jerusalem, they will violate international law, “human feelings, conscience and history.”
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said the opinions expressed Saturday “have little basis.”
“For too long our opponents have been able to talk about international law without being held to account,” Ayalon said. “We say strongly and firmly that we have a legal right to build in Jerusalem. … We call on the Palestinian Authority to cease living in delusions of forcing Israel to the pre-1967 lines and to come and join us at the negotiation table without preconditions.”
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