Abbas, Obama meeting to determine talks extension

[Jefferson23]

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The extension of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations will be determined by the upcoming meeting between presidents Mahmoud Abbas and Barack Obama, a Palestinian official said Sunday.

Representative at the Arab League Mohammad Sbeih told Ma’an that "extending negotiations ... is highly dependent on Abu Mazen’s (Abbas') visit to Washington and what will be proposed."

“Until now, (the position) is not to extended negotiations,” Sbeih said of an April deadline for agreeing a framework agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sbeih added that if Abbas wants to extend the negotiations he will propose that option to the Arab League, and it would be largely dependent on progress so far.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=678057

[azurnoir]

1. what and who's purpose is served by dragging out the talks?

Israel's settlement construction jumped by 123% in 2013

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4494635,00.html

[Jefferson23]

2. Seems evident who has the advantage...must be nice. n/t