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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US talks push for Mid-East peace | US talks push for Mid-East peace |
| (1 day later) | |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has held talks with her Israeli counterpart amid fresh diplomatic moves to advance the Mid-East peace process. | |
| Ms Rice's meeting with Tzipi Livni came after Israel approved a plan to expand a West Bank settlement, which the US called "not helpful". | |
| Ms Livni's visit to Washington follows a lull in fighting between Israel and Palestinians in Hamas-run Gaza. | Ms Livni's visit to Washington follows a lull in fighting between Israel and Palestinians in Hamas-run Gaza. |
| US Vice-President Dick Cheney is also due to visit the region next week. | US Vice-President Dick Cheney is also due to visit the region next week. |
| Last week US President George W Bush said he was still optimistic there would be a Middle East peace deal before he leaves office next January. | Last week US President George W Bush said he was still optimistic there would be a Middle East peace deal before he leaves office next January. |
| Fragile process | Fragile process |
| The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the US appears to be on a diplomatic offensive, in an attempt to bring about a lasting agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. | The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the US appears to be on a diplomatic offensive, in an attempt to bring about a lasting agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| US policy on this is well known Condoleezza Rice class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7289401.stm">Press sceptical of ceasefire Although the heavy fighting seen in recent weeks has now diminished, there are fears that Israel's decision to re-start construction at Givat Zeev in the West Bank could derail the peace process again. | |
| "It's not helpful to the process - but what we need to keep focused on... is moving forward the political process as well as moving forward that roadmap implementation process," US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said. | "It's not helpful to the process - but what we need to keep focused on... is moving forward the political process as well as moving forward that roadmap implementation process," US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said. |
| The Givat Zeev project was first signed off in 1999, but stopped two years later after Palestinian labourers refused to go on. | The Givat Zeev project was first signed off in 1999, but stopped two years later after Palestinian labourers refused to go on. |
| Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and about 400,000 Jews have settled in the area, including East Jerusalem. | Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and about 400,000 Jews have settled in the area, including East Jerusalem. |
| Settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. | Settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. |
| Sitting next to Ms Livni, Ms Rice did not comment directly on the construction announcement, saying only that "US policy on this is well known". | Sitting next to Ms Livni, Ms Rice did not comment directly on the construction announcement, saying only that "US policy on this is well known". |
| "We have said that it's important to do everything possible to make the atmosphere for Annapolis as good as possible," she added, referring to a US-led summit last November which relaunched Israel-Palestinian peace talks. | "We have said that it's important to do everything possible to make the atmosphere for Annapolis as good as possible," she added, referring to a US-led summit last November which relaunched Israel-Palestinian peace talks. |