| U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (Archive) Netanyahu's spokesman Nir Chefetz (click here) said the Israeli leader had proposed some "mutual confidence-building steps" that both Israel and the Palestinians could take in the West Bank. He declined to spell these out. | ||
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon
..."The members of the Quartet (click title to entry - thank you) have agreed that we will use every available opportunity to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to resume indirect talks. We think that the announcement that we have made today states very clearly the assessment of the situation and paves the way first towards the start of indirect talks, and then to direct talks," Lavrov said.
Ban and Clinton condemned the Israeli housing plans and demanded that all settlement activity be halted.
"The Quartet urges the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001 and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem," Ban said.
"We all condemn the (settlement) announcement and we are all expecting both parties to move toward the proximity talks," Clinton added.
Ban also said that a new peace agreement between the Israeli and Palestinian authorities should be reached within 24 months....
