UNITED NATIONS, Shawwal 17, 1431, Sept 26, SPA -- A peaceful settlement between Israel and the Palestinians is up to the Israeli government, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday. Addressing the U.N. General Assembly, Abbas called on Israel to halt settlement construction and remove the security fence. He said Israel has shown a "mentality of expansion and domination." But he said the authority has engaged in the peace talks because of a "genuine desire" to end hostility in the region, a U.N. release said. "Our demands for the cessation of settlement activities, the lifting of the siege and an end to all other Israeli policies and practices do not constitute arbitrary pre-conditions in the peace process, but are consistent with the implementation of obligations and previous commitments, compliance with which has been repeatedly reaffirmed in all resolutions adopted since the very start of the political process," Abbas was quoted as saying by the United Press International (UPI). --SPA 10:52 LOCAL TIME 07:52 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/820618