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Israel, Palestinians to Resume Peace Talks in Washington

   VOA News 02 September 2010

Photo: White House

   President  Barack Obama talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
   and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel at the conclusion of a
   statement  to  the  press  in the East Room of the White House, 01 Sep
   2010

   Israeli and Palestinian leaders are meeting in Washington Thursday for
   their first direct peace talks in nearly two years.

   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is overseeing the negotiations
   between  Israeli  Prime  Minister  Benjamin  Netanyahu and Palestinian
   President  Mahmoud  Abbas.   U.S.  officials  have  said they hope to
   broker an agreement within a year.

   Mr.  Netanyahu  and  Mr.  Abbas both expressed their commitment to the
   peace  efforts  Wednesday, following their separate meetings with U.S.
   President Barack Obama at the White House.

   Mr.   Obama  said  he  is  "cautiously  hopeful"  that  peace  can  be
   achieved.   He  said  both sides know that years of mistrust will not
   disappear overnight.

   Obstacles   remain,  including  the  threat  of  violence,  which  was
   illustrated  over  the  last two days by a pair of attacks that killed
   four  Israeli settlers.  The Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed
   responsibility  and  vowed,  Thursday,  to  continue attacks. Â Israel
   responded by stepping up security.

   Hamas,  which  controls the Gaza Strip, opposes Mr. Abbas' decision to
   restart peace talks with Israel.

   Security  is  a major issue for Israel in peace talks.  Mr. Netanyahu
   has said any final deal would have to include arrangements to ensure a
   future   Palestinian   state   be  demilitarized  and  not  become  an
   "Iranian-sponsored terror enclave."

   Mr.  Abbas  is  demanding  that Israel halt all settlement activity in
   areas  the  Palestinians  want as part of their new state, and end its
   blockade of Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas.

   The  Palestinian leader has said negotiations would fail unless Israel
   extends  a moratorium on West Bank settlement construction that is due
   to expire September 26.

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

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