US envoy meets Mid-East leaders

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7297220.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The US envoy appointed to monitor the stalled peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians has held his first meeting with the two sides.

Lt Gen William Fraser met Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and a delegation from the Israeli defence ministry in Jerusalem.

The Israelis and Palestinians agreed to relaunch peace efforts when they met at a conference in the US in November.

But after renewed violence in the region, hopes are limited.

After the two-hour meeting, the US consulate in Jerusalem said the goal of the talks was the fulfilment of the stalled 2003 peace plan known as the roadmap.

"We examined areas where the parties are not meeting their commitments and the reasons why, and explored ways to accelerate the process," the consulate said in a statement.

The statement said there had been a "cordial, but frank" exchange of views.

Israel has come under criticism for ignoring a commitment to freeze settlement activity and dismantle settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

"Numerous construction projects in many settlements are continuing every day," said Mr Fayyed, after the meeting.

"This is not a freeze by any standards."

Israel says Palestinians are not complying with their commitment to tackle militants.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams had not met since an increase in violence over the past two weeks, in which more than 120 people were killed.

In recent days, dozens of rockets have been fired by Palestinians from Gaza, and Israeli forces killed four Palestinian militants in the West Bank.