PLO to approach UNSC over Jewish settlement

RAMALLAH - The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said Saturday it has decided to approach the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss the increasing Israeli settlement activity in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

"The PLO has made the decision because the issue has become so serious and will undermine peace efforts," member of the PLO's executive committee Yasser Abed Rabbo told reporters in Ramallah.

Abed Rabbo also said that PLO's executive committee will ask the council of the Arab League to follow up this issue which " threatens the Arabs' national security."

He urged the international Quartet for Peace in the Middle East, which comprises the United States, European Union, Russia and United Nations, to give priority to solve the settlement issue before searching for mechanisms to restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Quartet has set January 26 as the deadline to restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stopped due to disputes over Jewish settlement in October last year, four weeks after they kicked off under the auspice of the United States.