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Efforts appear faltering
” Both the president and the prime minister have agreed that we will continue our discussions, ongoing in an effort to move forward in this process toward what we all share as a common goal: the establishment of comprehensive peace in the Middle East “
Middle East envoy George Mitchell
U.S. President Barack Obama’s drive to end the six-decade old conflict appeared to be faltering just a month after his administration launched the direct talks in Washington.
“Both the president and the prime minister have agreed that we will continue our discussions, ongoing in an effort to move forward in this process toward what we all share as a common goal: the establishment of comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” Mitchell told reporters in Ramallah.
“There remain obstacles. Our determination continues,” he said. Earlier in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said: “We are making efforts together with Senator Mitchell to continue to hold the talks with President Abbas. We want the talks to continue.”
Abbas says he will pull out of the talks unless Israel extends its 10-month freeze on new building in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which expired this week.
Palestinians say the growth of the settlements, on land Israel has occupied since 1967, will render impossible the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip — the stated goal of the peace talks.
Some 500,000 Jews live on territory where the Palestinians aim to establish their state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said the United States would “continue in their bilateral efforts between us and the Israelis, each separately”.
“The key to direct talks is in the hand of the Israeli prime minister. We hope that the Israeli leadership chooses peace and not settlement,” he said after Mitchell’s meeting with Abbas.
Abbas has said he will take no final decision until the Arab League has discussed the issue. There were indications on Friday that the Oct. 4 date for an Arab League consultation would be set back to Oct. 8 at the request of U.S. ally Egypt.
European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said after talks with the principals that major powers engaged in the process were “very concerned that the ending of the moratorium should not put at risk the possibility of long-term peace”.
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