How Does President Obama Plan To Press Mideast Leaders To Broaden Talks?
Video: http://www.thestar.com/videozone/699590 The Israeli and Palestinian leaders shook hands yesterday at the start of their first face-to-face meeting, hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, but the small gesture was unlikely to translate into a quick resumption of peace talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remain far apart on key issues, including Israeli settlement expansion and the agenda of future talks. Obama said at the start of the trilateral talks that the sides have made some progress, but have much further to go. He told both leaders it’s time to find a way to break the deadlock. “There is a powerful sense of urgency,” he said. Obama’s Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, is to return to the region for another round of mediation next week, and Israeli and Palestinian envoys are to go to Washington. Obama said he expects a progress report in mid-October.
Published Date: 20 September 2009 The White House says President Barack Obama will host a meeting on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the three-way meeting will take place after Mr Obama meets separately with each of the two leaders. All the meetings will take place on Tuesday in an effort to lay the groundwork for renewed negotiations. US special envoy George Mitchell says it is another sign of Mr Obama’s commitment to comprehensive peace. The meetings will take place in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
