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Biden in Israel for peace drive Biden in Israel for peace drive
(about 1 hour later)
US Vice-President Joe Biden has arrived in Israel to promote a new round of Middle East peace talks more than a year after they stalled.US Vice-President Joe Biden has arrived in Israel to promote a new round of Middle East peace talks more than a year after they stalled.
Mr Biden - the highest-ranking Obama administration official to visit the region - will meet both Palestinian and Israeli officials.Mr Biden - the highest-ranking Obama administration official to visit the region - will meet both Palestinian and Israeli officials.
Iran's nuclear intentions are expected to be at the top of Israel's agenda.Iran's nuclear intentions are expected to be at the top of Israel's agenda.
Hours before Mr Biden landed, Israel enraged Palestinians by approving new homes for the occupied West Bank.Hours before Mr Biden landed, Israel enraged Palestinians by approving new homes for the occupied West Bank.
Mr Biden will try to reassure Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that plans for tougher sanctions against Iran are serious, says the BBC's Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen.Mr Biden will try to reassure Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that plans for tougher sanctions against Iran are serious, says the BBC's Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen.
ANALYSIS Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor The US vice-president's visit comes at a time of general foreboding in the region, and of pessimism about the chances for new peace talks.ANALYSIS Jeremy BowenBBC Middle East editor The US vice-president's visit comes at a time of general foreboding in the region, and of pessimism about the chances for new peace talks.
It's a sign of how bad things are that indirect proximity talks are being presented as an achievement.It's a sign of how bad things are that indirect proximity talks are being presented as an achievement.
Sixteen years of direct peace talks failed. There have been none at all for more than a year.Sixteen years of direct peace talks failed. There have been none at all for more than a year.
Proximity talks were last suggested in the time of Henry Kissinger in the early 1970s.Proximity talks were last suggested in the time of Henry Kissinger in the early 1970s.
A breakthrough would surprise all sides. There are fears of more violence if the current political vacuum continues.A breakthrough would surprise all sides. There are fears of more violence if the current political vacuum continues.
The US does not want Israel to take military action against Iran, which is much talked about here, our correspondent reports from Jerusalem.The US does not want Israel to take military action against Iran, which is much talked about here, our correspondent reports from Jerusalem.
Mr Biden is due to hold talks with Mr Netanyahu, opposition leader Tzipi Livni and President Shimon Peres on Tuesday.Mr Biden is due to hold talks with Mr Netanyahu, opposition leader Tzipi Livni and President Shimon Peres on Tuesday.
He then moves on to meetings with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank on Wednesday.He then moves on to meetings with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank on Wednesday.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to meet Mr Netanyahu because of Israel's refusal to put a complete stop to building Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to meet Mr Netanyahu because of Israel's refusal to put a complete stop to building Jewish settlements in the occupied territories.
But after US pressure, President Abbas agreed on Monday to four months of indirect, so-called "proximity talks".But after US pressure, President Abbas agreed on Monday to four months of indirect, so-called "proximity talks".
The discussions would mark the first time the Palestinians and Israelis have come together in any form for more than a year.The discussions would mark the first time the Palestinians and Israelis have come together in any form for more than a year.
Mr Netanyahu said on Monday: "Our security is to preventÂ… missiles, rockets, terror and these are things that I intend to insist upon in order to get an arrangement that will last generations, this is achievable."Mr Netanyahu said on Monday: "Our security is to preventÂ… missiles, rockets, terror and these are things that I intend to insist upon in order to get an arrangement that will last generations, this is achievable."
'More provocations''More provocations'
The delegations were expected to meet separately with the US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, who was to shuttle between them.The delegations were expected to meet separately with the US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, who was to shuttle between them.
The apartments in Beitar Illit are "an exception", the Israelis sayThe apartments in Beitar Illit are "an exception", the Israelis say
The announcement, however, came just hours after Israel infuriated Palestinians by approving the construction of 112 new apartments in the Beitar Illit settlement in the West Bank.The announcement, however, came just hours after Israel infuriated Palestinians by approving the construction of 112 new apartments in the Beitar Illit settlement in the West Bank.
Israel has promised a 10-month pause in settlement building in the West Bank, though not in East Jerusalem. Israel says it is halfway through a 10-month pause in settlement building it announced for the West Bank, though not in East Jerusalem.
But it says the Beitar Illit apartments were an "exception", approved before the moratorium was announced.But it says the Beitar Illit apartments were an "exception", approved before the moratorium was announced.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the move put the talks at risk.Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said the move put the talks at risk.
"We cannot tolerate that each time we have discussions on peace-making the Israeli government tenders more settlements, more incursions, more provocations," he said, reports AFP news agency."We cannot tolerate that each time we have discussions on peace-making the Israeli government tenders more settlements, more incursions, more provocations," he said, reports AFP news agency.
A US state department spokesman said the development did not breach the building moratorium, but was "the kind of thing both sides need to be cautious of".A US state department spokesman said the development did not breach the building moratorium, but was "the kind of thing both sides need to be cautious of".
All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.All settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.