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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Moscow hosting Mid-East talks | Moscow hosting Mid-East talks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Senior leaders from the international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators are meeting in Moscow to try to restart stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks. | Senior leaders from the international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators are meeting in Moscow to try to restart stalled Israeli-Palestinian talks. |
| The US, EU, UN and Russia are meeting amid tension over Israel's announcement of new settler homes in East Jerusalem. | The US, EU, UN and Russia are meeting amid tension over Israel's announcement of new settler homes in East Jerusalem. |
| Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu informed Washington of new confidence-building measures on the eve of the meeting but no details have been given. | Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu informed Washington of new confidence-building measures on the eve of the meeting but no details have been given. |
| Washington's ties with Israel have been under strain over the settlements. | Washington's ties with Israel have been under strain over the settlements. |
| The Russian government has said it expects the Quartet meeting to produce a strong message and demonstrate international support for the peace process. | The Russian government has said it expects the Quartet meeting to produce a strong message and demonstrate international support for the peace process. |
| [Mrs Clinton and Mr Netanyahu] discussed specific actions that might be taken to improve the atmosphere for progress toward peace PJ CrowleyUS State Department Jerusalem's tinder-box href="/2/hi/middle_east/8568692.stm">Israel-US: Bruised friendship href="/2/hi/middle_east/6669545.stm">Borders and settlements | |
| But events in the Middle East on Thursday highlighted the difficulties the Quartet faces. | But events in the Middle East on Thursday highlighted the difficulties the Quartet faces. |
| A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip killed a Thai agricultural worker when it hit an Israeli kibbutz. | A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip killed a Thai agricultural worker when it hit an Israeli kibbutz. |
| Israeli aircraft attacked up to six targets in Gaza overnight but there were no reports of any serious casualties. | Israeli aircraft attacked up to six targets in Gaza overnight but there were no reports of any serious casualties. |
| The violence came as the EU's new foreign policy chief, Baroness Ashton, visited Gaza - one of the highest-level visits there by a Western official since the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas took power. | The violence came as the EU's new foreign policy chief, Baroness Ashton, visited Gaza - one of the highest-level visits there by a Western official since the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas took power. |
| Lady Ashton is attending the talks in Moscow. | Lady Ashton is attending the talks in Moscow. |
| Significant conversation | Significant conversation |
| No details were given of Thursday's telephone conversation between Mr Netanyahu and US secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is now in Moscow. | No details were given of Thursday's telephone conversation between Mr Netanyahu and US secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is now in Moscow. |
| But their call is significant, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from the Russian capital. | But their call is significant, the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from the Russian capital. |
| Enough progress was apparently made for George Mitchell, Washington's Middle East envoy, to travel to the region this weekend after all. He had postponed an earlier trip amid the settlement row. | Enough progress was apparently made for George Mitchell, Washington's Middle East envoy, to travel to the region this weekend after all. He had postponed an earlier trip amid the settlement row. |
| "They discussed specific actions that might be taken to improve the atmosphere for progress toward peace," US state department spokesperson PJ Crowley said in Moscow. | "They discussed specific actions that might be taken to improve the atmosphere for progress toward peace," US state department spokesperson PJ Crowley said in Moscow. |
| It is likely this means a goodwill gesture by the Israelis, like the release of Palestinians prisoners, our correspondent says. | It is likely this means a goodwill gesture by the Israelis, like the release of Palestinians prisoners, our correspondent says. |
| Mr Crowley added that Washington would now review the prime minister's response and work with Israelis and Palestinian to keep the indirect negotiations, known as proximity talks, moving forward. | Mr Crowley added that Washington would now review the prime minister's response and work with Israelis and Palestinian to keep the indirect negotiations, known as proximity talks, moving forward. |
| Washington wants those talks to focus on the core issues at the heart of the conflict, like borders and Jerusalem, our correspondent says. | Washington wants those talks to focus on the core issues at the heart of the conflict, like borders and Jerusalem, our correspondent says. |
| Hopes of fresh Israeli-Palestinian talks were thrown into doubt last week by Israel's East Jerusalem housing announcement, with the Palestinians saying they could not negotiate in such circumstances. | Hopes of fresh Israeli-Palestinian talks were thrown into doubt last week by Israel's East Jerusalem housing announcement, with the Palestinians saying they could not negotiate in such circumstances. |