Palestinian PM to U.S.: Draft new Mideast peace plan

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad urged the United States on Saturday to draw up a fresh plan aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, AFP reported.

"I call anew on the United States to come up with a plan and a timetable for its application that will contribute to put an end to Jewish settlements and Israeli offensives, and lead to serious negotiations," Fayyad was quoted as saying.

The Palestinian leader made the comments in a speech at the Qalandiyah refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, the French news agency said.

"Israel is turning its back on international legitimacy," he was quoted as adding.

U.S. President Barack Obama is, in fact, expected to announce a diplomatic plan soon for renewal of the Middle East peace process.

A central feature of the plan, which will be presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, will be a binding timetable for negotiations on the core issues involved in a final resolution of the conflict.

It may also be precluded by an easing of pressure for a building freeze in the settlements on the part of the Unites States.

Palestinian-Israeli peace talks relaunched at a U.S.-hosted conference in November 2007 but have been stalled since the end of 2008.

Abbas has said he will not resume talks until Israel completely halts settlement construction in the West Bank.