Israel undermines chances of establishing Palestinian state: Palestinian PM

RAMALLAH, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye on Sunday said that Israeli measures, including settlement expansion, undermine any chances of establishing a Palestinian state.

The reality on the ground is gradually deteriorating, and the two-state solution will not be achieved through negotiations "because the Israeli government doesn't want to," said Ishtaye during a meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to an official statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced earlier that his government would not hold any talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority or any Palestinian official.

"The Israeli government put on its agenda no talks with President Abbas, no peace negotiations and no Palestinian state," said Ishtaye, calling on Singapore to recognize the Palestinian state.

Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which were sponsored by the United States for nine months, stopped in 2014 following deep differences on issues related to Jewish settlements and the recognition of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.