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Biden in Israel for peace drive US eyes chance for Mid-East peace
(30 minutes later)
US Vice-President Joe Biden is to meet Israeli leaders, a day after arriving in the Middle East as part of a new initiative to revive the peace process. 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.
He is expected to push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume direct talks, in the highest-level visit yet by an Obama administration official. 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".
Hours before Mr Biden landed, Israel enraged Palestinians by approving 112 new homes in the occupied West Bank. He made the comments before meetings with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem.
Iran's nuclear programme is expected to be at the top of Israel's agenda. Hours before Mr Biden's arrival, Israel enraged Palestinians by approving 112 new homes in the occupied West Bank.
Mr Biden will try to reassure Mr Netanyahu that plans for tougher sanctions against Iran are serious, says the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Jerusalem. Palestinian officials accused Israel of trying to undermine the new talks.
The US does not want Israel to take military action against Iran, which is much talked about there, our correspondent says. 'Proximity talks'
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, which has been stalled for more than a year.
"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 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.
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.
In an interview on Monday with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Mr Biden stressed that the US would stand by Israel. "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 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." During the proximity talks, negotiating teams will meet separately with the US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who will shuttle between them.
"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." However, correspondents say no-one on either side is talking with any great optimism about what the indirect talks might achieve.
Mr Biden is also due to hold talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres and opposition leader Tzipi Livni on Tuesday. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to hold direct negotiations with the Israeli government because of its refusal to put a complete stop to building Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, he will meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank.
Palestinian Authority 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 West Bank and East Jerusalem.
We cannot tolerate that each time we have discussions on peace-making the Israeli government tenders more settlements, more incursions, more provocations Saeb ErekatChief Palestinian negotiator In the shadow of a settlement An Israeli settlement in close-up Middle East 'haunted by the past'
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.
Despite the Palestinian position, President Abbas agreed on Monday to hold four months of indirect "proximity talks", during which the negotiating teams would meet separately with the US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who would shuttle between them. 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.
Any such discussions would mark the first time the Palestinians and Israelis have come together in any form for more than a year. Israel says the building in Beitar Illit is 'an exception' class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8273995.stm">In the shadow of a settlement class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8268543.stm">An Israeli settlement in close-up class="" href="/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8261702.stm">Middle East 'haunted by the past'
However, correspondents say no-one on either side is talking with any great optimism about what the indirect talks might achieve. 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.
'More provocations' The chief Palestinian negotiator said President Abbas had told Mr Mitchell that the move put the indirect talks at risk.
Mr Biden's arrival came just hours after Israel infuriated Palestinians by approving the construction of 112 new housing units in the West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit. "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 apartments in Beitar Illit are "an exception", the Israelis say 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 Israeli defence ministry said the units were approved before Israel agreed to the 10-month suspension of most new settlement construction, and that they were an "exception", because of safety and infrastructure issues.
But chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said 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," he told the AFP news agency.
A US state department spokesman said the development did not breach the building 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 Arab 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 Arab East Jerusalem. They are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
Iran fears
Mr Biden is currently holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
They are expected to discuss the peace process and mutual concerns about Iran's nuclear controversial nuclear programme.
I can promise the Israeli people that we will confront, as allies, any security challenge it will face US Vice-President Joe Biden
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.
The US does not want Israel to take military action against Iran, which is much talked about there, our correspondent says.
In an interview on Monday with the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Mr Biden stressed that the US would stand by Israel.
"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.
"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."
On Wednesday, Mr Biden will meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank before travelling to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah.