U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington will no longer be a “passive participant” in the Middle East peace talks but will instead push the two sides to deal with “core issues without delay.”
In a speech delivered Friday at a Middle East policy seminar in Washington, Clinton urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resolve the various issues that have led to an impasse in negotiations over a two-state solution. The chief U.S. diplomat said it was important for both sides to compromise in order to reach an agreement.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak raised the prospects of sharing Jerusalem during his speech to the policy seminar.
Barak suggested western Jerusalem and Jewish neighborhoods would belong to Israel. He said neighborhoods with significant Arab populations could be under Palestinian control.
Hours before her speech, Clinton met separately with Barak and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Clinton spoke just days after the Obama administration abandoned efforts to convince Israel to resume a freeze on the building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Palestinians oppose Israeli construction on land they want as part of a future state.
Clinton said U.S. special envoy George Mitchell will head back to the region next week. She said the negotiations will concentrate on divisive issues such as borders and security, settlements, water, refugees and Jerusalem — which Israel says is its capital. Palestinians hope mainly Arab East Jerusalem will serve as the capital of their future state.
In a speech delivered Friday at a Middle East policy seminar in Washington, Clinton urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resolve the various issues that have led to an impasse in negotiations over a two-state solution. The chief U.S. diplomat said it was important for both sides to compromise in order to reach an agreement.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak raised the prospects of sharing Jerusalem during his speech to the policy seminar.
Barak suggested western Jerusalem and Jewish neighborhoods would belong to Israel. He said neighborhoods with significant Arab populations could be under Palestinian control.
Hours before her speech, Clinton met separately with Barak and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Clinton spoke just days after the Obama administration abandoned efforts to convince Israel to resume a freeze on the building of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Palestinians oppose Israeli construction on land they want as part of a future state.
Clinton said U.S. special envoy George Mitchell will head back to the region next week. She said the negotiations will concentrate on divisive issues such as borders and security, settlements, water, refugees and Jerusalem — which Israel says is its capital. Palestinians hope mainly Arab East Jerusalem will serve as the capital of their future state.
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