John
08-21-2010, 09:33 AM
The US has set an ambitious timetable to resolve the Middle East peace crisis between Israel and the Palestinians within one year.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already accepted his invitation to the first of the talks on September 2.
And Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is also now reported to have agreed to attend.
The United States' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the leaders have been invited back to the negotiating table to create a "just and lasting peace".
It represents a diplomatic victory for the White House, which has struggled to persuade both sides to resume talks that broke down in December 2008.
Sen Clinton said the talks - to be hosted by President Barack Obama - will address "final status issues", such as borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.
She said the US "fully supports a two-state solution in the Middle East", adding that she expected a peace agreement to be completed "within a year".
But she warned: "There have been difficulties in the past, there will be difficulties ahead - I ask the parties to persevere, to keep moving forward even through difficult times."
Although he has welcomed the invitation, Mr Netanyahu has said a deal will be "a difficult challenge but is possible".
He added: "We are coming to the talks with a genuine desire to reach a peace agreement between the two peoples that will protect Israel's national security interests."
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev has insisted Mr Netanyahu is "committed" to reaching a deal.
He told Sky News: "Both sides are going to have to come to the table with a willingness to negotiate and a willingness to be flexible.
"What is required is leadership from both sides...to get an historic deal."
Speaking from Jerusalem, Sky News' Middle East correspondent Dominic Waghorn said: "It has taken months of painstaking diplomacy to get this far, just the prospect of face-to-face talks.
"That is an indication of the enormous challenges ahead in making any meaningful progress."
Waghorn added: "Even if peace talks made a breakthrough - and that is a big 'if' at this stage - it is still doubtful if either side could deliver.
"The Israeli right wing coalition government would likely fall apart if it made the kind of concessions the Palestinians want.
"The Palestinian leadership is weak and only in control of barely half its people."
Tony Blair, the special envoy of the quartet of Middle East peacemakers - the US, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia - is also expected at the talks.
Completing the line-up at the first session will be Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Sen Clinton said the three have played a "critical role in this effort".
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has "warmly welcomed" the move and described it as a "courageous step".
He said: "A two-state solution is the only hope for lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
"Urgent progress must now be made - we call on all parties to refrain from any activity that could undermine negotiations."
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already accepted his invitation to the first of the talks on September 2.
And Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is also now reported to have agreed to attend.
The United States' Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the leaders have been invited back to the negotiating table to create a "just and lasting peace".
It represents a diplomatic victory for the White House, which has struggled to persuade both sides to resume talks that broke down in December 2008.
Sen Clinton said the talks - to be hosted by President Barack Obama - will address "final status issues", such as borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.
She said the US "fully supports a two-state solution in the Middle East", adding that she expected a peace agreement to be completed "within a year".
But she warned: "There have been difficulties in the past, there will be difficulties ahead - I ask the parties to persevere, to keep moving forward even through difficult times."
Although he has welcomed the invitation, Mr Netanyahu has said a deal will be "a difficult challenge but is possible".
He added: "We are coming to the talks with a genuine desire to reach a peace agreement between the two peoples that will protect Israel's national security interests."
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev has insisted Mr Netanyahu is "committed" to reaching a deal.
He told Sky News: "Both sides are going to have to come to the table with a willingness to negotiate and a willingness to be flexible.
"What is required is leadership from both sides...to get an historic deal."
Speaking from Jerusalem, Sky News' Middle East correspondent Dominic Waghorn said: "It has taken months of painstaking diplomacy to get this far, just the prospect of face-to-face talks.
"That is an indication of the enormous challenges ahead in making any meaningful progress."
Waghorn added: "Even if peace talks made a breakthrough - and that is a big 'if' at this stage - it is still doubtful if either side could deliver.
"The Israeli right wing coalition government would likely fall apart if it made the kind of concessions the Palestinians want.
"The Palestinian leadership is weak and only in control of barely half its people."
Tony Blair, the special envoy of the quartet of Middle East peacemakers - the US, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia - is also expected at the talks.
Completing the line-up at the first session will be Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Sen Clinton said the three have played a "critical role in this effort".
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has "warmly welcomed" the move and described it as a "courageous step".
He said: "A two-state solution is the only hope for lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
"Urgent progress must now be made - we call on all parties to refrain from any activity that could undermine negotiations."