Palestinians urge Washington to raise pressure on Israel

West Bank: Palestinians on Thursday appealed to the United States to raise pressure on Israel, saying an Israeli plan to halt new construction in the West Bank was insincere.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top presidential adviser, said he hopes US envoy George Mitchell can bring about what he called "a real peace process" that would halt all colony construction. Mitchell is expected in the region soon in his latest attempt to bring the sides back to the negotiating table.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a 10-month halt to new construction in West Bank colonies as a step toward restarting Mideast peace negotiations.

The Palestinians swiftly rejected the plan because it did not include a building freeze in Jewish neighbourhoods in occupied east Jerusalem, the sector of the city they want as the capital of a future state, and because it would not apply to some 3,000 homes already under construction.

"Netanyahu's declaration yesterday doesn't signal any intention of Israel to go through a genuine and serious peace process because it doesn't include a serious colony freeze," Abed Rabbo said.

Will this offer in fact jumpstart the pace talks? Or is it just a ploy by Israel to evade the pressure being exerted by the international community?