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Clinton begins visit to West Bank Clinton begins visit to West Bank
(40 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting western-backed Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank after talks with Israeli politicians.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting western-backed Palestinian Authority leaders in the West Bank after talks with Israeli politicians.
She was holding talks with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, before going on to meet President Mahmoud Abbas.She was holding talks with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, before going on to meet President Mahmoud Abbas.
The Palestinians are expected to press her over continued Israeli settlement activity and the Israeli blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.The Palestinians are expected to press her over continued Israeli settlement activity and the Israeli blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip.
Gaza is led by the rival Hamas faction - which dismissed Mrs Clinton's visit.Gaza is led by the rival Hamas faction - which dismissed Mrs Clinton's visit.
In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton expressed "unshakeable" support for Israel, but restated the Obama administration's commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton expressed "unshakeable" support for Israel, but restated the Obama administration's commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
She said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would also be in Israel's best interest, but this goal has not been endorsed by Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's right-wing prime minister-designate.She said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would also be in Israel's best interest, but this goal has not been endorsed by Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's right-wing prime minister-designate.
Internal strifeInternal strife
"Any Israeli government that will be formed must accept the two-state solution, all agreements signed and stop settlement activity," Abbas aide and senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP news agency ahead of Mrs Clinton's talks."Any Israeli government that will be formed must accept the two-state solution, all agreements signed and stop settlement activity," Abbas aide and senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP news agency ahead of Mrs Clinton's talks.
"Border crossings must be opened into Gaza... and eviction orders for [the east Jerusalem neighbourhoods of] Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah must be stopped." Israeli settlement-building continues apace"Border crossings must be opened into Gaza... and eviction orders for [the east Jerusalem neighbourhoods of] Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah must be stopped."
Mrs Clinton has publicly backed the need for a two-state solutionOn Tuesday, Mrs Clinton said Washington would be "vigorously engaged" in pursuing a Palestinian state. On Tuesday, Mrs Clinton said Washington would be "vigorously engaged" in pursuing a Palestinian state.
But a year of peace talks between Mr Abbas' administration and the Israelis have yielded few results.But a year of peace talks between Mr Abbas' administration and the Israelis have yielded few results.
Meanwhile, Israeli settlement-building has continued, with nearly half a million settlers now occupying land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in contravention to international law, though Israel disputes this.Meanwhile, Israeli settlement-building has continued, with nearly half a million settlers now occupying land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in contravention to international law, though Israel disputes this.
The BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, says that the big question is whether the new US administration of Barack Obama is prepared to twist Mr Netanyahu's arm on the two-state solution.The BBC's Middle East editor, Jeremy Bowen, says that the big question is whether the new US administration of Barack Obama is prepared to twist Mr Netanyahu's arm on the two-state solution.
He says there are signs of a growing feeling in Washington that allowing Israel total freedom to decide its own policy on the Palestinians may not, in fact, be a productive way to address Israel's security problems. FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml">More from BBC World Service He says there are signs of a growing feeling in Washington that allowing Israel total freedom to decide its own policy on the Palestinians may not, in fact, be a productive way to address Israel's security problems.
But he says the main Israeli objection to a Palestinian state is that if it was controlled by an enemy entity such as Hamas, that could in fact be disastrous for Israeli security.But he says the main Israeli objection to a Palestinian state is that if it was controlled by an enemy entity such as Hamas, that could in fact be disastrous for Israeli security.
'Biased''Biased'
The Palestinians' own deep internal divisions are also an obstacle to an effective settlement.The Palestinians' own deep internal divisions are also an obstacle to an effective settlement.
Gaza is in the hands of the Islamist Hamas faction, while the West Bank administration is led by the more secular Fatah group - though Israeli forces occupy large swathes of the West Bank and both territories are subject to external Israeli controls.Gaza is in the hands of the Islamist Hamas faction, while the West Bank administration is led by the more secular Fatah group - though Israeli forces occupy large swathes of the West Bank and both territories are subject to external Israeli controls.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum dismissed Mrs Clinton's visit, saying her statements so far had been "totally biased in favour of the Zionist occupation and do not reflect any change in American foreign policy", AP news agency reported.Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum dismissed Mrs Clinton's visit, saying her statements so far had been "totally biased in favour of the Zionist occupation and do not reflect any change in American foreign policy", AP news agency reported.
Fewer and fewer Palestinians are convinced that they will ever have their own state, correspondents say.Fewer and fewer Palestinians are convinced that they will ever have their own state, correspondents say.
At an international donor conference in Egypt on Monday, Mrs Clinton outlined her Middle East strategy and pledged $900m (£642m) to help rebuild the Gaza Strip following Israel's recent offensive there.At an international donor conference in Egypt on Monday, Mrs Clinton outlined her Middle East strategy and pledged $900m (£642m) to help rebuild the Gaza Strip following Israel's recent offensive there.
In Israel she held talks with the mainly ceremonial president, Shimon Peres, before going on for a meeting with outgoing Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.In Israel she held talks with the mainly ceremonial president, Shimon Peres, before going on for a meeting with outgoing Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
She also met Benjamin Netanyahu and caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on her first visit to the region as the top diplomat of Barack Obama's US administration.She also met Benjamin Netanyahu and caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on her first visit to the region as the top diplomat of Barack Obama's US administration.
Right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not endorsed efforts to create a negotiated Palestinian state, has been asked to form Israel's next government after indecisive elections on 10 February.Right-winger Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not endorsed efforts to create a negotiated Palestinian state, has been asked to form Israel's next government after indecisive elections on 10 February.