President Barack Obama praised the recent start of indirect peace talks between Israel and Palestinian leaders during a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, the White House said.
According to the White House, Obama and Abbas discussed the need to move from proximity talks to direct negotiations in order to reach agreement on permanent status issues "as soon as possible."
The first round of talks began Sunday after the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee approved
initiating the negotiations after a three-hour meeting in Ramallah in the West Bank a day earlier.
U.S. special envoy George Mitchell is brokering the talks.
In the Tuesday phone call, the White House said, Obama "reiterated his strong support for the establishment of an independent, viable Palestinian state living in peace and security with Israel" - a crucial issue for the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the Middle East Quartet - made up of representatives from the United Nations, European Union, Russian Federation and the United States - also issued a statement Tuesday in support of the proximity talks, calling them "a significant step toward direct, bilateral negotiations and comprehensive peace in the Middle East."
"The Quartet calls on the parties to pursue these talks in good faith and offers its support for their efforts," the statement said.
The last round of peace talks broke down in December 2008 over Israel's three-week military offensive against Hamas in Gaza.
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Post by: The CNN Wire Filed under: Barack Obama • Middle East • Uncategorized |
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and the charade goes on and on and on.... just flipping sickening , shame on Obumma and his Zionists masters
The ventriloquist and the muppet...
Joe Sixpack. Do we have to say more. I guess just one thing. Shut up and stick to your day job
It is about time, the president forms his own foreign policies
George Bush would have NEVER praised these kinds of talks. Unless he was getting oil out of it. Which he would have because he would just invade whoever before any talks began anyway. Republicans, you're dumb, and nobody else in the entire world likes you because you a irrational and socially backward.
if they make peace there then they can make peace anywere