Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
U.S. envoy seeks Mideast talks deal, tension rises
|
Edition:
U.S.
Article
Slideshow
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
Most Popular
Most Shared
UPDATE 3-'Precious' sweeps indie film awards
06 Mar 2010
Iran's Ahmadinejad calls Sept 11 "big fabrication"
06 Mar 2010
Cablevision homes in New York lose ABC ahead of Oscars
12:47am EST
Oscar hopeful Sandra Bullock crowned worst actress
1:13am EST
Iraqi leaders wind up election campaign
| Video
05 Mar 2010
China wants more diplomacy before Iran sanctions
06 Mar 2010
Cablevision homes in New York lose ABC ahead of Oscars
12:47am EST
Oscar hopeful Sandra Bullock crowned worst actress
1:13am EST
Iran's Ahmadinejad calls Sept 11 "big fabrication"
06 Mar 2010
Plant-focused diet may curb breast cancer risk
04 Mar 2010
U.S. envoy seeks Mideast talks deal, tension rises
Alastair Macdonald
JERUSALEM
Sat Mar 6, 2010 5:03pm EST
Related News
Israel, Palestinians set for indirect talks
Thu, Mar 4 2010
U.S. answers not yet enough for Mideast talks: Dahlan
Mon, Mar 1 2010
<
1 / 7
>
View Full Size
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy began a round of meetings on Saturday aimed at relaunching negotiations, while the Palestinian leader said he feared the 20-year-old peace process with Israel was close to collapse.
World
George Mitchell, the U.S. mediator, met Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv, an Israeli spokesman said. In keeping with Mitchell's low-key style, he made no public comment.
He was to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a day later. Officials expect discussion on formats for the four months of "proximity talks" to which Abbas agreed last week after a year of demanding Israel end settlement building before negotiations could resume.
Though violence is low compared to the bloodshed in the early part of the last decade, tensions are rising over land and holy sites around Jerusalem and the West Bank since Netanyahu came to power at the head of a right-led coalition a year ago, adding urgency to U.S. and European pressure for peace talks.
Clashes on Friday between Palestinians and Israeli forces at Jerusalem's flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque drew a call for restraint all round from the U.N. Security Council and an accusation from Abbas that Israeli "provocation" aimed to wreck peace moves and risked sparking a "war of religion" across the Middle East.
Abbas, who won backing on Saturday from his Fatah party's Central Committee for the return to talks, accused Netanyahu of intransigence on Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory that, he said, had brought the peace process close to collapse.
"The peace process has almost reached a dead end," he said in a speech in Ramallah, citing Netanyahu's refusal to stand by compromise offers made by his predecessor before Abbas broke off prior negotiations in late 2008 over Israel's offensive in Gaza.
"DARK FUTURE"
Despite a temporary, partial freeze on building in the West Bank, the expansion of Jewish settlements on land occupied since 1967, as well as an Israeli heritage plan announced last month to include West Bank religious sites "threaten ... to open the door to a dark future that awaits us all," he said.
"The Israeli government continues to procrastinate to gain time and strengthen its control of the occupied territories to prevent any realistic possibility of establishing an independent, viable ... state of Palestine," Abbas added.
Netanyahu's government has said it is willing to discuss any issue with Abbas but has made clear that, particularly given the strength of Abbas's rivals in the hardline, Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip and is popular elsewhere, an early deal delivering a Palestinian state is unlikely.
The prime minister has also dismissed calls for Israel to give up control of all Jerusalem and allow the east of the city, captured in 1967, to be the capital of such a Palestinian state.
A demonstration against Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem by several thousand Palestinians and Israeli peace activists passed off peacefully on Saturday night. Trouble had been feared with settlers who claim a religious right to all of the city.
In the West Bank, relatives buried six members of a single Palestinian family who were killed when their car collided with an Israeli military vehicle on Friday. Reflecting popular anger, officials from Fatah said the soldiers were to blame.
Sources on both sides have said they expect Mitchell to secure agreement on a format of talks between negotiators to begin possibly in Washington or elsewhere abroad fairly soon.
The sources also concur that the "proximity" element, whereby U.S. officials shuttled between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, may not last long before talks become more direct.
The "proximity" label may have helped Abbas retreat from his condition that a settlement freeze must precede talks. He won Arab League backing last week for four months of negotiation.
But sources on both sides said negotiators, long familiar with each other, may resume face-to-face talks before long.
Few on either side hold out much hope of a compromise and many question how far Obama will devote Washington's resources to this intractable problem at a time of competing challenges, not least Western efforts to curb Iran's nuclear programme.
U.S. officials say details of how the negotiations will be resumed are likely after Mitchell ends his meetings on Monday.
(Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta and Tom Perry in Ramallah, Ori Lewis in Jerusalem and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; editing by Ralph Boulton)
World
More from Reuters
Under threat, Iraqis vote in crucial election
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqis began voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election that Sunni Islamist insurgents have vowed to derail in an effort to plunge the war-shattered country back into sectarian bloodshed as U.S. troops leave. | Video
Biden to try to boost Middle East peace prospects
Icelanders reject deal to repay British and Dutch
| Video
Mortar shells fired at polling stations in Iraq
China foreign minister says U.S. ties "disrupted"
Global climate battle plays out in World Bank
» More Top News
Reuters' award-winning week
This photo was among the prize winners at an awards ceremony honoring Reuters journalists and photographers. Full Article
Slideshow: Photographer of the year
Thomson Reuters
Succeeding the Dalai Lama
Who will succeed the aging exiled spiritual leader once he dies? One scenario has Tibetans worried. Full Article
China tightens its fiscal belt
Video: China boosts social spending
China
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
Reuters
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Help
Journalism Handbook
Archive
Site Index
Video Index
Analyst Research
Mobile
Newsletters
RSS
Podcasts
Widgets
Your View
Labs
Thomson Reuters
Copyright
Disclaimer
Privacy
Professional Products
Professional Products Support
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Careers
Online Products
Acquisitions Monthly
Buyouts.com
Buyouts Europe:
Buyouts Conferences:
Venture Capital Journal
EVCJ
International Financing Review
International Securitisation Report
Project Finance International
PEhub.com
PE Week
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
Other News on Sunday, 7 March 2010 CORRECTED
EU foreign ministers in show of support for Ashton
BlackBerry checks if Saudi wants to control messages
Greek civil servants occupy building
Sade Beats Out Lady Antebellum, Johnny Cash For Third Week At #1 On Billboard Albums Chart
US agencies needs clear cybersecurity roles: GAO report
Marie Osmond's Son Took His Own Life, Police Say
Russia says Islamist rebel leader killed
|
Dr. Conrad Murray Could Have Covered Up Evidence In Michael Jackson's Death
Iran's Ahmadinejad calls Sept 11 "big fabrication"
Marie Osmond's Son Commits Suicide
Gary Coleman Hospitalized After Suffering Seizures On Set Of "The Insider"
Turkish PM says U.S. vote to "greatly harm" ties
Taliban fight in Afghan south led by ex-Gitmo inmate
|
Italy opposition protests at ballot decree
|
Two peacekeepers missing after Darfur ambush
|
Woman Feeds Bear In Zoo, Loses Fingers
Afghan: Marjah chief's crime record will be probed
Murder-Suicide Bodies Found Inside Burned Home
New Afghan chief in Marjah has criminal record
Obama Shows Resolve To Get Health Care Reform Done
North Korea airs rare video of leader at rally
China: No direct contact with Google on dispute
Reports: SKorean Internet addicts let baby starve
Sri Lanka leader rejects UN panel on rights abuses
Leading Pakistani Taliban deputy believed killed
Top Pakistani Taliban leader may be dead
India's Essar to buy US coal company
Alice in Wonderland opens strongly at box office
|
Jordan pins hopes on 'Hurt Locker' sweeping Oscars
NKorea defector tells of business deals in West
Stevie Wonder receives top French award
Iraq Elections LIVE REPORT
Under threat, Iraqis vote in crucial election
|
Anger as FIFA rejects goal-line technology
Gunmen raid Berlin poker tournament: police
Ex-intelligence officer wins USA Memory Championship
Sarkozy announces loans for crisis-hit French farmers
Mortars rock Baghdad as election begins
Russian forces kill eight, find train attack clues
US-TECH Summary
Polls open for Iraq's parliamentary election
Mortar shells fired at polling stations in Iraq
|
Iraqis vote in crunch test for fledgling democracy
Some Chile quake areas awaiting aid a week later
|
China to punish hackers, says no Google complaint
British PM hails anti-Taliban push in southern Afghanistan
Venezuela, Spain boost anti-terror ties after row
US envoy seeks Mideast talks deal, tension rises
Videogame makers racing to develop iPad games
U.S. envoy seeks Mideast talks deal, tension rises
|
Kosovo PM rejects talks on status
Togo leader Gnassingbe re-elected in disputed poll
|
AIDS rise may force India to spend more: World Bank
|
US billions for Iran sanction-busting firms
Paramedics hail 'hero' boy from Arizona bus crash
Chinese experts stress need for basic health care
Mini-cyclone, record floods hit Australia
Panasonic, Best Buy to tie up on 3D TV sales
|
Australia police follow up India toddler's death
China to punish hackers, says no Google complaint
|
Good times return for India's IT workers
Rural Australian towns flooded by rising rivers
Sadr urges Iraqis to vote to help end U.S. occupation
|
Japan to arrest anti-whaling activist: report
China says Iran sanctions no cure
|
No signs of life from 31 trapped in Chinese mine
Malaysia opposition fires lawmaker in 'Allah' spat
Death toll from China snow storms rises to 30
China's gang-busting city boss gets a national audience
Mitsubishi, Peugeot capital tie-up may happen
Sandra Bullock delights at Razzie awards
S.Korea firms to raise capex 17 pct in 2010-survey
China faces new pressure to let currency rise
China says no request yet from Google for talks
Burden of AIDS hits Zimbabwe's women hardest
Sandra Bullock delights at Razzie awards
Alice in Wonderland opens strongly at box office
|
Sex scandals: a bad week for India's 'godmen'
Oscar hopeful Sandra Bullock crowned worst actress
|
Redbone singer Lolly Vegas dies in Los Angeles
Redbone singer Lolly Vegas dies in Los Angeles
|
Nicaragua's poor scavenge 1972 earthquake wreckage
'Alice in Wonderland' enchants North American box office
Thousands march in Cape Town for gay rights in Africa
Swiss museum puts Polaroids 'in peril' on show
"Alice in Wonderland" opens strongly at box office
Iran's Ahmadinejad to visit Afghanistan on Monday
North Korea warns U.S. and South of nuclear build-up
|
Eight Teens Shot Outside Indiana Roller Rink
Karzai visits Afghan battle zone
|
Cablevision, Disney Fee Spat Darkens ABC Hours Before Oscars
Dozens reported dead in Afghan infighting: police
Egypt's Mubarak in 'stable condition': state TV
Japan PM support down to 36 percent amid base woes: poll
|
Pakistan police very near to UK boy's abductors
|
Clashes kill more than 100 in central Nigeria
|
Togo opposition says to contest Gnassingbe win
|
Thai ship free after ransom: Somali pirates
|
China says only socialism can save Tibet
|
12 killed in Philippine bus accident
Taiwan experts probe suspected fault after quake
Gunmen kill Pakistani Taliban leader in northwest
Sri Lankan opposition leader on hunger strike
N.Korea slams US war games, pledges nuclear defence
Man charged in death of Indian boy in Australia
Indian women may hold a third of legislature seats
NKorea threatens force ahead of US-SKorea drills
China says only socialism can "save" Tibet
Hollywood on edge as Oscars countdown begins
Maoist rebels threaten to attack Indian cities
China defends growing links with Africa
Malaysia Airlines boosted after sweeping reforms
Italy Corruption Probe Exposes Liaisons Of Vatican Escort With Men
Japan finance minister: stimulus plan to continue
Hollywood on edge as Oscars countdown begins
Swiss vote a resounding 'no' to lawyers for animals
Chips are down for US casinos as revenues slide
Director rejects Israel link before Oscars
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights