It didn't take long... The US is pressurising Abbas to continue with the so-called 'peace talks' even though 80 illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank are just about to be expanded. The US and Israel, hand in hand, once again setting the agenda, and dictating terms they know are impossible for Abbas to accept. How can you believe Israel seriously wants peace, and to negotiate the creation of a viable two-state solution, whilst it continues simultaneously illegally expanding and seizing Palestinian land.

Israel is also reportedly pushing for Ariel, a large illegal Jewish settlement, to be annexed to Israel in any agreement, again, evidence that Israel is totally not interested in peace, but legitimizing territory it has illegally seized from the Palestinians.

Last time you may remember it was the expansion of 900 housing units in the Gilo settlement, in East Jerusalem during the 'peace talks'. Plus amongst others, in September 2009, Israel announced plans to build 486 flats in Pisgat Zeev, East Jerusalem, in defiance of US opposition, just days after sanctioning 455 new housing units to be constructed in the West Bank.

It seems as though history is repeating itself, and Israel will continue construction of illegal settlements on Palestinian land, yet seek to lay the blame squarely on Abbas for the complete failure of the peace talks. Israel does not have the right to dictate the terms of the peace talks and blatantly continue in defiance of International law, by building and expanding illegal settlements. A collapse of these talks could trigger a third intifada, therefore its in both the Palestinians and Israeli's interests to push for a genuine peace deal, a viable Palestinian state, and for Israel to withdraw to the legal pre-1967 borders