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US presses Israel over two states | US presses Israel over two states |
(10 minutes later) | |
US Vice-President Joe Biden has said Israel must back a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. | US Vice-President Joe Biden has said Israel must back a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians. |
Mr Biden also called for an end to Jewish settlement-building - one of the Palestinians' key demands. | Mr Biden also called for an end to Jewish settlement-building - one of the Palestinians' key demands. |
Israel's recently-elected right-wing government has so far resisted calls to publicly support Palestinian statehood. | Israel's recently-elected right-wing government has so far resisted calls to publicly support Palestinian statehood. |
Mr Biden's remarks came hours before Israeli President Shimon Peres and US President Barack Obama were due to hold talks in the US capital. | Mr Biden's remarks came hours before Israeli President Shimon Peres and US President Barack Obama were due to hold talks in the US capital. |
Addressing the main US Israel lobby, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), Mr Biden said Israel must take concrete measures. | Addressing the main US Israel lobby, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), Mr Biden said Israel must take concrete measures. |
"Israel has to work toward a two-state solution. You're not going to like my saying this but not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement." | "Israel has to work toward a two-state solution. You're not going to like my saying this but not build more settlements, dismantle existing outposts and allow Palestinians freedom of movement." |
Mr Biden also said Palestinian militants must halt violent attacks against Israel and release immediately Giald Shalit - an Israeli soldier seized in a cross-border raid into Israel from the Gaza Strip in 2006. | |
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Aipac that he was willing to resume peace talks with the Palestinians without any delay or preconditions. | On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Aipac that he was willing to resume peace talks with the Palestinians without any delay or preconditions. |
Speaking by a satellite link-up, he said political talks should be part of a "fresh" triple-track approach also covering economic and security issues. | Speaking by a satellite link-up, he said political talks should be part of a "fresh" triple-track approach also covering economic and security issues. |
However, he made no mention of a Palestinian state as part of a peace settlement. | However, he made no mention of a Palestinian state as part of a peace settlement. |
The Obama administration has made clear its commitment to pursuing a two-state solution. |