RAMALLAH, Sept 7, 2021 (BSS/XINHUA) - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed

Ishtaye on Monday called on the Israeli government to present a peace program
to the Palestinian people for realizing a "two-state solution" on 1967
borders.

  A plan proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to restrict the
conflict "is nothing more than throwing dust in the eyes of the international
community," Ishtaye told the Palestinian cabinet here, according to a press
statement.

  "We are confident that neither the United States nor Europe will buy
Bennett's plan," Ishtaye said, adding that "reducing the conflict is a plan
aimed at reducing the Palestinian land and repositioning the Israeli
occupation in the Palestinian territories."

  Ishtaye referred to Bennett's plan reportedly revealed Friday at an off-
the-record Zoom call with leaders from the Conference of Presidents of Major
American Jewish Organizations.

  "Steps to reduce tension with the Palestinians will be taken, although
there is no political breakthrough," and "everyone realizes that we do not
expect a political breakthrough with the Palestinians in the near future,"
Bennett was quoted by Israeli media as saying.

  Ishtaye told the weekly cabinet meeting that "reducing tension with the
Palestinians is through the cessation of settlements in the West Bank and
East Jerusalem, and a timetable for ending the Israeli occupation."

  "Other than that, it remains in the form and does not touch the essence of
the conflict, which is related to ending the occupation, stopping settlement
and finding a fair solution for the Palestinian refugees' question," he
added.

  Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the
Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled them ever since.
The Jewish settlements are considered a violation of international law by
most of the international community.