This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7718322.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Moscow to host next Mideast talks Moscow to host Mid-East meeting
(about 5 hours later)
The Quartet of Middle East mediators say they will hold a conference in Moscow early next year to push forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The Quartet of Middle East mediators plan to hold a conference in Moscow early next year to push forward the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The statement follows a meeting of Quartet envoys from the US, the UN, the EU and Russia in Egypt. The proposal follows a meeting of Quartet envoys from the US, the UN, the EU and Russia in Egypt.
They were briefed by Palestinian and Israeli leaders on the progress of their bilateral talks. Palestinian and Israeli leaders briefed them on the progress of their talks.
Quartet envoy Tony Blair urged US President-elect Barack Obama to make the Middle East an urgent priority. Analysts say the proposal is a tacit admission there will be no peace deal before US President George W Bush leaves office, as he had hoped.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Moscow conference - planned for the spring next year - must be a step forward in reaching an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. At last year's US-sponsored conference in Annapolis, Maryland, the Israelis and Palestinians committed to reaching a peace agreement by the time Mr Bush stepped down in January 2009.
But there has been little progress since then.
The two sides did agree on Sunday - in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh - that negotiations should continue to reach a comprehensive two-state solution, as outlined at the Annapolis talks.
'Great opportunity'
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Moscow conference - planned for Spring next year - must be a step forward in reaching an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
By then, Mr Obama will be in office and February's Israeli elections will have produced a new government.By then, Mr Obama will be in office and February's Israeli elections will have produced a new government.
'Foundation built'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon summarised the briefing the Quartet had received from Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon summarised the briefing the Quartet had received from Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
He said the two sides had reached agreement that there would be no peace deal until all issues between them were settled.He said the two sides had reached agreement that there would be no peace deal until all issues between them were settled.
They also agreed on the need for negotiations to continue to reach a comprehensive two-state solution as outlined one year ago at a US-sponsored conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
Palestinian Authority President Abbas is locked in a feud with HamasPalestinian Authority President Abbas is locked in a feud with Hamas
At that time, the Israelis and the Palestinians committed to reaching a peace deal by the time US President George W Bush left office in January 2009.
That goal is now out of reach as there has been little tangible progress in the Israeli-Palestinian talks since then.
The core issues dividing the two sides include the status of Jerusalem, the borders of a future Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees.The core issues dividing the two sides include the status of Jerusalem, the borders of a future Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would hand over to her successor in private and then "you won't hear any more from me". US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, on perhaps her last visit to the region while in office, said she would hand over to her successor in private and then "you won't hear any more from me".
The Quartet's envoy, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, said it was important that the incoming Obama administration "grips this issue from day one". The Quartet's envoy, Tony Blair, said it was important that the incoming Obama administration "grips this issue from day one" and makes the Middle East an urgent priority.
He said there was now a foundation to build upon. The former UK Prime Minister told BBC World TV there was now "a platform on which to build - I wouldn't put it higher than that".
"It has to be built on, and it has to be built on by treating this issue as of fundamental importance, not just to this region, but to the world from the first day of the next administration." "I think for the new president coming in now, there is an great obligation obviously, but also a great opportunity," he said.
"And from all the conversations that I've had with Barack Obama over the past period, I'm sure that he treats this obligation and opportunity really seriously and wants to move it forward."
Further hampering the peace process is the feud between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.Further hampering the peace process is the feud between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.
Hamas pushed President Abbas's Fatah out of the Gaza Strip last year and has now boycotted separate Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation talks that were to have begun in Cairo on Monday.Hamas pushed President Abbas's Fatah out of the Gaza Strip last year and has now boycotted separate Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation talks that were to have begun in Cairo on Monday.
Hamas officials accused Mr Abbas of arresting hundreds of its members in the Fatah-controlled West Bank.Hamas officials accused Mr Abbas of arresting hundreds of its members in the Fatah-controlled West Bank.
Israel, the US and the EU consider Hamas a terrorist organisation and will not meet its representatives.Israel, the US and the EU consider Hamas a terrorist organisation and will not meet its representatives.