Peace talks to begin between Israel and Palestinians

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-20/mideast-direct-talks-very-very-close-state-department-spokesman-says.html

Israel and the Palestinian Authority are “very, very close” to agreeing to resume direct talks after a 20-month standstill, State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said.

“There are still details that we’re working through,” Crowley told reporters yesterday. He declined to give a date for the start of face-to-face negotiations. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will make a statement on the issue at 11 a.m. in Washington, the State Department said today.

U.S. President Barack Obama is set to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to Washington in early September to open direct talks, the New York Times reported, citing two unidentified officials.

Direct peace negotiations were suspended when Israel began a military operation in the Gaza Strip in December 2008 in what it said was an attempt to stop rocket attacks on its southern towns and cities from the Hamas-controlled territory. Hamas, an Islamic movement, is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union and Israel.

American envoy George Mitchell has mediated between the two sides in an effort to persuade them to return to direct talks.

The Palestinians have said they won’t meet Netanyahu for peace talks until Israel freezes all settlement construction in the West Bank. Netanyahu declared a 10-month moratorium on building in settlements last November that is set to expire Sept. 26. The freeze excluded public buildings, such as kindergartens, and some 3,000 housing units that previously received government approval.

Defining what constitutes construction of a new settlement has been a sticking point, according to a diplomat with knowledge of the effort.

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it seems like these sort of talks are never ending..one day..they must make a difference..are our leaders capable of fixing the problem?..probably not..but they will make some good grabs for the tv news..

401

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~ by seeker401 on August 25, 2010.