RAMALLAH, West Bank, July 11, 2010, SPA -- The Palestinian president says direct talks with Israel would be futile under current circumstances, the Associated Press reported. President Mahmoud Abbas said he won't return to the table unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commits to a settlement freeze and agrees to pick up talks where they left off. Abbas said late on Saturday that if the Israelis say, «come let's start negotiations from zero» that is «futile and pointless.» His aide, Yasser Abed Rabbo, has said that the Palestinians won't return to talks without a framework and a timetable. --SPA 12:12 LOCAL TIME 09:12 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/800766