A three-hour meeting between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held without the presence of US envoy Martin Indyk on Sunday ended without clear signs of progress.

PLO sources said Israeli negotiator Tzipi Livni demanded that the Palestinians withdraw their applications for international treaties because the Israelis considered it a unilateral step.

The demand was rejected by the Palestinians who also refused to freeze the application — “refusing to even consider it,” said one source — and adding that there was no turning back.

The Palestinian team, led by Saeb Erekat and Majed Farraj, demanded a complete freeze of settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank, as an initial condition before discussing other issues.

The Palestinian team also demanded the release of a fourth group of veteran prisoners, without the option of exiling them.

(Ma’an News – www.maannews.net)