Palestinians rejected Tuesday a vision of peace outlined by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a speech before the US Congress, with a spokesman accusing the Israeli leader of "placing obstacles in the way of the peace process", dpa reported.
In his speech, Netanyahu said that while Israel would be "generous" with the size of a Palestinian state, there would be no Israeli return to the borders which existed in June 1967 - before Israel captured the West Bank - and Jerusalem would not be divided.
The Israeli leader also said Israel should retain a presence along the Jordan River.
But Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Netanyahu's proposal was unacceptable.
"For us, the borders of the Palestinian state should be the lines of 1967 and East Jerusalem as its capital and we will not accept any Israeli presence inside the Palestinian state, particularly on the River Jordan, "he said in a statement.
Saeb Erekat, the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization's Negotiations Department, said that "Netanyahu did not come with anything new."
"We want to hear from him accepting the principle of two states on the 1967 borders, and without this to talk about peace will be a waste of time," Erekat said.
The Islamist Hamas movement, which rejects any permanent, long-term accommodation with Israel, also rejected Netanyahu's speech.
"Netanyahu's statements prove he does not intend to make any peace with the Palestinians and that he is willing to continue his settlement plans," Hamas said in a statement.
Hamas also reacted harshly to Netanyahu's demand that Abbas tear up his recent reconciliation agreement with Hamas.
"What should be torn are the peace treaties (with Israel)," the Hamas statement said.
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