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Clinton Seeks Compromise to Rescue Middle East Peace Talks

   VOA News 25 September 2010
   US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (file photo)

Photo: AP

   US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (file photo)

   U.S.   Secretary  of  State  Hillary  Clinton  is  set  to  meet  with
   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a second straight day Saturday
   in a bid to salvage Middle East peace talks.
   The  Palestinians have threatened to walk out of the U.S.-backed talks
   if  Israel  does  not  extend a slowdown on settlement building set to
   expire Sunday.  Israel has refused to consider the extension but says
   it is willing to consider a compromise.
   The  Obama administration is pressing Israel to extend the slowdown of
   settlement  construction and urging Palestinians not to make good on a
   threat to walk away from the negotiations.
   A  senior  U.S.  State  Department  official  described  current  U.S.
   negotiations   with   Israel   and  the  Palestinians  as  "intense".Â
   Assistant  Secretary  for Near East Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, said the
   United  States  does  not want either side to abandon the talks when a
   solution is possible through negotiations.
   Secretary  Clinton held a 25-minute minute with President Abbas in New
   York Friday.  The two are scheduled to meet again on Saturday.
   Direct  negotiations  between  Mr.  Abbas  and  Israeli Prime Minister
   Benjamin Netanyahu resumed earlier this month in Washington. Â
   U.S.  President  Barack Obama called for international support for the
   Israeli-Palestinian  peace  process during his Thursday address to the
   United  Nations General Assembly.  He expressed hope for a peace deal
   in a year's time.

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

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