AL chief rules out normalization of Arab ties with Israel

Arabs should not normalize relations with Israel as long as it is planning to build more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa said Sunday.

"It is impossible to speak of normalization while Israel rejects to take any significant measure," Moussa told a joint press conference with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshaal, adding that the Israeli position would not lead to any progress towards the peace process.

Moussa ruled out any steps taken by Arabs to normalize relations with Israel, calling for closing the issue of normalization.

"I don't believe that any Arab government can offer Israel the gift of normalization on a silver plate," he said, adding "this issue must be closed."

He warned that "if we know that someone normalized ties with Israel, I believe that there would be a very violent reaction across the Arab world."

Meshaal echoed Moussa's statements, saying that he is against giving Israel the reward of normalization.

Moussa's remarks came after the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post reported on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to approve next week plans for hundreds of new housing units in the West Bank before considering a moratorium "for a few months" on further construction.

On Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Israeli's remarks about accelerating building settlements are "unacceptable" and "useless", calling for a full freeze of these settlements as a condition for his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Some 450,000 Israelis live in more than 100 settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.