Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday criticized the Palestinian envoy to a recent series of talks held in Amman for not sticking to an agreement to not discuss the talks publicly.

"We agreed there would be no talk on what happened during the talks, but (Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb) Erekat can't stop talking -- despite the fact that we kept our end of the bargain," Netanyahu said during a discussion in the Knesset parliament.

"We presented a document of 21 points on which there is wall-to- wall consensus in Israel," Netanyahu said of a position paper that Israel submitted, according to the Ynet news site.

A Palestinian official on Sunday told Xinhua that Israel has officially requested to extend exploratory talks with the Palestinians, but Erekat rejected the idea, telling his Israeli counterpart that the meetings will end by Jan. 26, in compliance with an ultimatum set by the international Quartet for peace in the Middle East which comprises the United States, the European Union, Russia and United Nations.

Regarding the three sessions of talks between the two sides, Israel's deputy prime minister and minister of intelligence and atomic energy on Sunday told Xinhua he hoped they would lead back to direct negotiations.

"After all, direct talks are the only alternative for both sides, and with no negotiations we find ourselves on a dead end. This current status is not good for Israel. We want to find a solution, and I think that the Palestinians do as well," Dan Meridor said.

He added that the territorial outlines for an agreement with the Palestinians are already known, as they were stated by U.S. President Barack Obama, to be based around the 1967 cease-fire lines.

"If they will have political power and courage, an end to the conflict can be reached. Ever since (former prime minister Ehud) Olmert's proposition three years ago, they have avoided negotiations. Let's hope they will change their ways," Meridor concluded.