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| Miliband meets Mid-East leaders | Miliband meets Mid-East leaders |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is due to hold talks in the West Bank with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is due to hold talks in the West Bank with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. |
| The meeting is among a number he is holding with key regional players, including in Syria and Lebanon. | The meeting is among a number he is holding with key regional players, including in Syria and Lebanon. |
| He is also holding talks with the main contenders for the Israeli premiership, Tzipi Livni and Binyamin Netanyahu. | He is also holding talks with the main contenders for the Israeli premiership, Tzipi Livni and Binyamin Netanyahu. |
| Mr Abbas is scheduled to hold another round of talks with the outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later in the day. | Mr Abbas is scheduled to hold another round of talks with the outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert later in the day. |
| BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says Britain believes there may be opportunities for progress in solving disputes in the region, as the world awaits the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new US president. | BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says Britain believes there may be opportunities for progress in solving disputes in the region, as the world awaits the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new US president. |
| Mr Miliband reportedly voiced strong opposition to Israeli settlement building in the West Bank. | Mr Miliband reportedly voiced strong opposition to Israeli settlement building in the West Bank. |
| He has been pressing European partners for tighter control on produce from the settlements, which built on land captured in 1967 and illegal in the eyes of international law. | He has been pressing European partners for tighter control on produce from the settlements, which built on land captured in 1967 and illegal in the eyes of international law. |
| Some agricultural and manufactured goods originating from settlements are admitted into Europe under the label of "Produce of Israel" and therefore enjoy tariff benefits under an Israel-EU treaty. | Some agricultural and manufactured goods originating from settlements are admitted into Europe under the label of "Produce of Israel" and therefore enjoy tariff benefits under an Israel-EU treaty. |
| Attacked | Attacked |
| Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Ms Livni sought Mr Miliband's support for her country's tough stand on the troubled Palestinian territory, Gaza, which is controlled by the Hamas militant group and which was sealed off by Israel two weeks ago apart limited fuel supplies. | Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Ms Livni sought Mr Miliband's support for her country's tough stand on the troubled Palestinian territory, Gaza, which is controlled by the Hamas militant group and which was sealed off by Israel two weeks ago apart limited fuel supplies. |
| "Israel can not just watch its citizens being attacked... The international community can not turn a blind eye," she said. | "Israel can not just watch its citizens being attacked... The international community can not turn a blind eye," she said. |
| Mr Miliband has been visiting the southern Israeli town of Sderot, which is adjacent to Gaza and in easy range of rocket fire coming from the territory. | |
| At least 16 Palestinian militants have been killed in skirmishes along the border in the past week. | At least 16 Palestinian militants have been killed in skirmishes along the border in the past week. |
| Israeli police said Palestinian militants fired eight rockets at southern Israel on Monday. The rockets landed in open areas and no-one was injured. | |
| Israel and the Hamas group agreed a ceasefire last July, but it has been under serious strain since early in November. | Israel and the Hamas group agreed a ceasefire last July, but it has been under serious strain since early in November. |
| On Friday, UK-based aid agency Oxfam warned of catastrophe in Gaza and neighbouring areas of Israel if the truce was not maintained. | On Friday, UK-based aid agency Oxfam warned of catastrophe in Gaza and neighbouring areas of Israel if the truce was not maintained. |
| It called on world leaders to do everything they could to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and urged Israel to resume supplies without delay. | It called on world leaders to do everything they could to break Israel's blockade of Gaza and urged Israel to resume supplies without delay. |