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Israeli Settlements Said to Delay Start of Direct Peace Talks
Plans to start direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are stalled as U.S. and European officials work to get the Israeli government to agree to halt new construction in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, according to a diplomat with knowledge of the effort.
Defining what constitutes construction of a new settlement by Israel is the sticking point, said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified. The diplomat said negotiators had hoped to be able to announce face-to-face talks earlier this week, and instead are waiting for both sides to compromise.
Israel is insisting talks aimed at the eventual creation of a Palestinian state begin without conditions, while the Palestinian Authority wants Israel to agree to stop building. The diplomatic Quartet of the U.S., Russia, the United Nations and the European Union said mediation led by American envoy George Mitchell is almost complete and direct talks could be announced in days.
Continue Reading at Bloomberg.
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