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US eyes chance for Mid-East peace US eyes chance for Mid-East peace
(about 1 hour later)
US Vice-President Joe Biden has said there is a "moment of real opportunity" for peace between the Palestinians and Israel during a visit to the region.US Vice-President Joe Biden has said there is a "moment of real opportunity" for peace between the Palestinians and Israel during a visit to the region.
Mr Biden said he hoped the agreement to begin indirect talks would be a vehicle by which both sides could "allay that layer of mistrust that has built up".Mr Biden said he hoped the agreement to begin indirect talks would be a vehicle by which both sides could "allay that layer of mistrust that has built up".
He made the comments before meetings with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem. He made the comments during meetings with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem.
Hours before Mr Biden's arrival, Israel enraged Palestinians by approving 112 new homes in the occupied West Bank.Hours before Mr Biden's arrival, Israel enraged Palestinians by approving 112 new homes in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to undermine the talks.Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to undermine the talks.
'Proximity talks' 'Provocations'
At the start of the highest-level visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories yet by an Obama administration official, Mr Biden said the agreement to hold four months of indirect, so-called "proximity talks" was a chance to revive the peace process.At the start of the highest-level visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories yet by an Obama administration official, Mr Biden said the agreement to hold four months of indirect, so-called "proximity talks" was a chance to revive the peace process.
"I hope it is a vehicle, a vehicle by which we can begin to allay that layer of mistrust that has built up in the last several years," he told reporters before meeting Israeli President Shimon Peres."I hope it is a vehicle, a vehicle by which we can begin to allay that layer of mistrust that has built up in the last several years," he told reporters before meeting Israeli President Shimon Peres.
ANALYSIS Roger HardyMiddle East analyst The Obama administration is trying again. Its first attempt to revive the peace process ended in tears. Its insistence on a complete Israeli settlement freeze sparked a row with the Netanyahu government - and it eventually had to back off.ANALYSIS Roger HardyMiddle East analyst The Obama administration is trying again. Its first attempt to revive the peace process ended in tears. Its insistence on a complete Israeli settlement freeze sparked a row with the Netanyahu government - and it eventually had to back off.
Now it has set a far more modest goal - indirect talks mediated by the US envoy, George Mitchell. Arab states have backed the move, but with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.Now it has set a far more modest goal - indirect talks mediated by the US envoy, George Mitchell. Arab states have backed the move, but with a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
It is hard to find anyone who thinks success is very likely. Israel believes it is strong enough to resist pressure to compromise - and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fears any major concession will undermine his already weak position.It is hard to find anyone who thinks success is very likely. Israel believes it is strong enough to resist pressure to compromise - and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas fears any major concession will undermine his already weak position.
"I think we are at a moment of real opportunity, and I think that the interests of the Israeli and Palestinian people, if everybody stops and takes a deep breath, are actually more in line than they are opposites," he added."I think we are at a moment of real opportunity, and I think that the interests of the Israeli and Palestinian people, if everybody stops and takes a deep breath, are actually more in line than they are opposites," he added.
During the proximity talks, negotiating teams will meet separately with the US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who will shuttle between them.During the proximity talks, negotiating teams will meet separately with the US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who will shuttle between them.
However, correspondents say no-one on either side is talking with any great optimism about what the indirect talks might achieve.However, correspondents say no-one on either side is talking with any great optimism about what the indirect talks might achieve.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to hold direct negotiations with the Israeli government for more than a year because of its refusal to put a complete stop to building Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to hold direct negotiations with the Israeli government for more than a year because of its refusal to put a complete stop to building Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In November, Israel announced a 10-month suspension of new building in settlements in the West Bank, under heavy US pressure.In November, Israel announced a 10-month suspension of new building in settlements in the West Bank, under heavy US pressure.
But the government does not consider areas within the Jerusalem municipality to be settlements and the restrictions do not apply.But the government does not consider areas within the Jerusalem municipality to be settlements and the restrictions do not apply.
Hours before Mr Biden's arrival, the Israeli defence ministry infuriated the Palestinian Authority by approving the construction of 112 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit.Hours before Mr Biden's arrival, the Israeli defence ministry infuriated the Palestinian Authority by approving the construction of 112 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit.
Israel says the building in Beitar Illit is 'an exception' In the shadow of a settlement An Israeli settlement in close-up Middle East 'haunted by the past'Israel says the building in Beitar Illit is 'an exception' In the shadow of a settlement An Israeli settlement in close-up Middle East 'haunted by the past'
It said the units had been approved before the start of the 10-month moratorium, and that they were an "exception", because of safety and infrastructure issues.It said the units had been approved before the start of the 10-month moratorium, and that they were an "exception", because of safety and infrastructure issues.
The chief Palestinian negotiator said President Abbas had told Mr Mitchell that the move put the indirect talks at risk.The chief Palestinian negotiator said President Abbas had told Mr Mitchell that the move put the indirect 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," Saeb Erekat told the 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," Saeb Erekat told the AFP news agency.
The US said the move did not violate Israel's limited settlement freeze, but was "the kind of thing both sides need to be cautious of".The US said the move did not violate Israel's limited settlement freeze, but was "the kind of thing both sides need to be cautious of".
Close to 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Close to 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They are considered illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.
Iran fears Iran sanctions
Mr Biden is currently holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Biden later discussed the peace process and Iran's nuclear programme with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
They are expected to discuss the peace process and mutual concerns about Iran's nuclear controversial nuclear programme. The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Jerusalem says the US does not want Israel to take military action against Iran, which is much talked about there.
I can promise the Israeli people that we will confront, as allies, any security challenge it will face US Vice-President Joe Biden After the talks, Mr Biden stressed that the cornerstone of Washington's relationship with Israel was an "absolute, total, unvarnished" commitment to its security, and reiterated its determination to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons.
The US vice-president will try to reassure Mr Netanyahu that plans for tougher UN Security Council sanctions against Iran are serious, says the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Jerusalem. We have to be persistent and purposeful to make sure that we get to those direct negotiations that will enable us to resolve this conflict Benjamin NetanyahuIsraeli Prime Minister
The US does not want Israel to take military action against Iran, which is much talked about there, our correspondent says. "Progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the United States and Israel," he told a news conference.
In an interview on Monday with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Mr Biden stressed that the US would stand by Israel. The vice-president said he was pleased that the Israeli and the Palestinian governments had agreed to launch indirect talks.
"I can promise the Israeli people that we will confront, as allies, any security challenge it will face. A nuclear-armed Iran would constitute a threat not only to Israel - it would also constitute a threat to the United States," he said. "We hope that these talks will lead and they must lead eventually to the negotiations of direct discussions," he added.
"Our administration is mobilising the international community to insist that Iran fulfil its international commitments. If it does not, it will have to deal with serious consequences and with increasing isolation." But he warned: "An historic peace is going to require both parties to make some historically bold commitments."
Mr Netanyahu said his security priorities were ensuring Iran did not build nuclear weapons and establishing peace with the Palestinians and its Arab neighbours.
"I very much appreciate the efforts of President Obama and the American government to lead the international community to place tough sanctions on Iran," he said.
"The stronger those sanctions are, the more likely it is that the Iranian regime will have to chose between advancing its nuclear programme, and advancing the future of its own permanence."
Mr Netanyahu praised US patience in attempting to resume the peace process, which he said had been difficult.
"But I am pleased that these efforts are beginning to bear fruit, and we have to be persistent and purposeful to make sure that we get to those direct negotiations that will enable us to resolve this conflict."
On Wednesday, Mr Biden will meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank before travelling to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah.On Wednesday, Mr Biden will meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank before travelling to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah.