Clinton Announces Sept 2 Peace Talks
Hillary Clinton has confirmed that formal peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians are scheduled to take place in September:
Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to new peace talks that start with meetings and a dinner involving President Obama on Sept. 1, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today.
Before the dinner, Obama will meet separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Clinton said.
The two leaders begin formal negotiations in a joint meeting with Clinton the next day, Sept. 2.
"The president and I are encouraged by the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas and fully share their commitment to the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security," Clinton said.
Obama also plans to jump start the new negotiations by meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Middle East negotiator Tony Blair.
Obama and his aides have been pushing for new Israeli-Palestinian talks since a previous round broke down in late 2008.
The new negotiations take place without preconditions, and have a one-year time frame.
"The enemies of peace will keep trying to defeat us and to derail these talks," Clinton said. "But I ask the parties to persevere, to keep moving forward even through difficult times, and to continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region."
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