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US eyes chance for Mid-East peace US eyes chance for Mid-East peace
(41 minutes 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 before 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''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.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 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 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.
It's a sign of how bad things are that indirect proximity talks are being presented as an achievement. 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.
Sixteen years of direct peace talks failed. There have been none at all for more than a year. 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.
A breakthrough would surprise all sides. There are fears of more violence if the current political vacuum continues. "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 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 East Jerusalem. They are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
Iran fearsIran fears
Mr Biden is currently holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.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.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 BidenI 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 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.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.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."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.""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.On Wednesday, Mr Biden will meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank before travelling to Jordan for talks with King Abdullah.