The PNI leader said Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s comments that Palestinians were using a call to extend a moratorium on illegal West Bank settlement building to undermine peace talks were "another confirmation that Israel uses negotiations to cover its expansionist policies and not for peace."
Barghouthi said settlement expansion was not deterred by the moratorium, pointing to developments in occupied East Jerusalem, which was excluded from the freeze.
He said Israel was planning to build a 12 meter concrete wall sectioning off parts of the occupied city, which would isolate residents in the Shu’fat refugee camp, Ras Khamis, Ras Shehada and Anata villages from Jerusalem.
Barghouthi further denounced attacks against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli detention, calling for an escalation in popular resistance in support of detainees and their families, and to "work to expose Israel’s violations against them and its violations of the Geneva Convention."