Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat urged on Saturday the United States and the international Quartet to exert pressure on Israel to resume the stalled Middle East peace process.

"We urge the international community not only to pressure on Israel to resume the peace process, but also to stop its aggression on our people," Erekat told the official Palestinian news agency Wafa in an interview.

The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks were halted last year after the former Israeli government gave a green light to expand settlements between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Erekat strongly condemned the Israeli measures against the Palestinians, which had mounted in the last a few days mainly against Jerusalem residents, and the settlers attacks on southern West Bank.

The peace negotiations on the final status issues, mainly Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security and borders were renewed in November 2007 right after holding Annapolis peace conference.

"As a negotiator, I stress that if the Israeli government rejects the signed agreements and continues expanding settlements, there will be no political negotiations," said Erekat.

However, he said that "contacts with the Israeli side will continue, mainly on arranging and coordinating the daily affairs of the Palestinians, including trade and treatment of patients in Israeli hospitals."