RAMALLAH, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Saeb Erekat Monday affirmed that no party has addressed the Palestinians about the U.S. economic plan, nor the workshop to be held in Bahrain next month.
Erekat said in an emailed statement that "on behalf of the PLO Executive Committee, I would like to confirm that we were not consulted by any party on the announced meeting to take place in Bahrain."
The top PLO officials said that reaching peace "is not about improving living conditions under occupation, but about reaching Palestine's full potential by ending the Israeli occupation."
A joint statement issued by the government of Bahrain and the U.S. on Sunday night said that Bahrain will host the "Peace to Prosperity" economic workshop in its capital of Manama on June 25-26, 2019.
According to the statement, the workshop will "facilitate discussions on an ambitious, achievable vision and framework for a prosperous future for the Palestinian people and the region, including enhancement of economic governance, development of human capital, and facilitation of rapid private-sector growth."
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye also said earlier Monday that "we were not consulted about the economic meeting in Bahrain," and declared that Palestinians reject U.S. Middle East peace deal, saying "resolving the conflict in Palestine will only be through a political solution."
"The economic factor is an outcome for the political settlement because the Palestinians and their leadership do not seek enhancing living conditions under occupation," he noted.
