Palestinians might have to abandon the goal of an independent state if Israel continues to expand Jewish settlements, the chief Palestinian negotiator said.
Saeb Erekat said it was a "moment of truth" for President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership.
He said it might be time for Mr Abbas to "tell the truth" that a two-state solution "is no longer an option".
But Israel rejects a one-state solution as a demographic time-bomb that would make Jews a minority in the country.
The Palestinians insist they cannot start peace talks unless Israel freezes settlement construction.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on a visit to Cairo, reiterated Washington's call for an end to Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank.
But, in an effort to get talks going, she added: "Getting into final status negotiations will allow us to bring an end to settlement activity."
Mr Erekat said Palestinians had made a mistake in the past by agreeing to negotiate with Israel without insisting that settlement building be stopped.
He suggested that President Abbas might not stand for re-election if the two-state solution were no longer an option, the BBC's Bethany Bell reports from Ramallah.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/8341929.stm
Published: 2009/11/04 14:22:35 GMT
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