Obama urges Middle East leaders "to move forward"
Baracl Obama meets Mahmoud Abbas and Benjamin Netanyahu
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By Richard James. |  |
Wednesday, 23, Sep 2009 08:47
By Richard James.
US president Barack Obama has urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to break the current deadlock in peace talks and "find a way to move forward".
Mr Obama hosted a meeting with Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in New York yesterday in an attempt to reignite negotiations between both sides.
Speaking to reporters, the US president said: "My message to these two leaders is clear. Despite all the obstacles, despite all the history, despite all the mistrust, we have to find a way forward.
"We have to summon the will to break the deadlock that has trapped generations of Israelis and Palestinians in an endless cycle of conflict and suffering.
"We cannot continue the same pattern of taking tentative steps forward and then stepping back. Success depends on all sides acting with a sense of urgency."
Critics claimed yesterday's meeting represented nothing other than a "photo call" for Mr Obama with the hope of any real progress an impossibility.
The Palestinians continue to receive backing of the US and the wider international community in their calls for a total freeze on the building of settlements in the West Bank by Israel.
A halt in the building is seen as imperative in attempts to establish a separate Palestinian state.
Prior to Tuesday's meeting, however, Mr Netanyahu declared he would fight for the settlements.
As a result, analysts claims yesterday's talks achieved little other than each side reaffirming its position.