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Biden Sees 'Moment of Opportunity' in Mideast Peace Process

   VOA News 09 March 2010
   U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden signs the guest book at the residence
   of  Israel's  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, 09 March
   2010

Photo: AP

   U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden signs the guest book at the residence
   of  Israel's  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, 09 March
   2010

   U.S.  Vice  President  Joe  Biden  says an agreement by Israel and the
   Palestinians  to  begin  indirect  peace  talks  marks  a  "moment  of
   opportunity" for the peace process.
   Biden  was  speaking  Tuesday  ahead  of  a  meeting in Jerusalem with
   Israeli  President  Shimon  Peres.  Biden  is making the highest-level
   visit  by  a U.S. official to Israel and the West Bank since the Obama
   administration took office more than a year ago.
   The U.S. vice president is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
   Netanyahu  later  Tuesday  and  Palestinian  President  Mahmoud  Abbas
   Wednesday in Ramallah.
   U.S.  officials said Monday the two sides had agreed to begin indirect
   peace  talks  through  U.S.  mediators  following  a 14-month break in
   negotiations.
   No  date  was  announced,  but  U.S.  Mideast  envoy  George  Mitchell
   expressed hope that indirect talks will lead to direct negotiations as
   soon as possible.
   In  New  York, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said Israel
   would  like to begin direct talks with the Palestinians "immediately."

   Mitchell  spoke  after  meeting Monday with Mr. Netanyahu in Jerusalem
   and  Mr. Abbas in Ramallah. The U.S. envoy said he urged both sides to
   refrain  from  statements  or  actions  that  may  inflame tensions or
   influence the outcome of the upcoming talks.
   Israel  approved  construction  Monday of 112 new homes in a West Bank
   settlement. The move angered Palestinians who want the territory for a
   future state.
   Palestinian  leaders  walked  away  from  direct  talks with Israel in
   December 2008 after Israeli forces launched an offensive against Hamas
   militants in the Gaza Strip.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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