U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due today to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, amid continuing difficulties in the Middle East peace process over Israeli settlement building in the West Bank.
Clinton, who is due to meet with Netanyahu in New York City, on November 10 said Israel's plan to proceed with more settlement building was counterproductive to peace negotiations -- but said she believes a deal with the Palestinians is still possible.
Israel said earlier this week that it would go ahead with plans for 1,300 new apartments on land in and around Jerusalem. The Palestinians seek the land for a future independent state.
In another development, Clinton announced that the United States had given an additional $150 million to the Palestinian Authority to help the Palestinians prepare for potential full statehood under a possible peace agreement with Israel.
U.S.-backed peace talks resumed in early September but were suspended by the Palestinians weeks later after Israel refused to extend a building freeze on West Bank settlements.
compiled from agency reports
Clinton, who is due to meet with Netanyahu in New York City, on November 10 said Israel's plan to proceed with more settlement building was counterproductive to peace negotiations -- but said she believes a deal with the Palestinians is still possible.
Israel said earlier this week that it would go ahead with plans for 1,300 new apartments on land in and around Jerusalem. The Palestinians seek the land for a future independent state.
In another development, Clinton announced that the United States had given an additional $150 million to the Palestinian Authority to help the Palestinians prepare for potential full statehood under a possible peace agreement with Israel.
U.S.-backed peace talks resumed in early September but were suspended by the Palestinians weeks later after Israel refused to extend a building freeze on West Bank settlements.
compiled from agency reports