GAZA- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qurei Tuesday welcomed US president George Bush's call on Israel to freeze all settlement activities in Palestinian areas but rejected Washington's position vis-a-vis Israel's annexation of big Jewish settlements.
"This is an important step, The Palestinian Authority (PA) is following with great concern to what is coming from the American administration regarding the situation on the ground and the peace process," Qurei told reporters ahead of a government meeting.
Qurie, also known as Abu Alaa, hoped the Israeli government would respond positively to Bush's calls. "The Israeli government had promised in the past but did not meet its promises," he added.
But Qurei rejected Bush's statements in which he suggested that the Jewish state could annex big Jewish compounds in the occupied Palestinian areas.
"We categorically reject to deal with the Jewish blocks around Jerusalem and in Bethlehem and in any location in the Palestinian territories," said Abu Alaa.
"These are Palestinian lands which were occupied in 1967 and are recognized by international resolutions.
"We will not accept any party to prejudge the results of negotiations and determinate the fate of any issue of the final status matters," said the Premier.
Qurei refused any Israeli unilateral action regarding the Jewish settlements.
He called on the US administration to maintain the roadmap.
Qurei said the PA would convey its positions to the US administration through the Saudi crown prince Abdullah and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak who are expected in Washington in near future.