Clinton: Israelis and Palestinians must do more

October 23, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Israelis and Palestinians each must do more toward renewing peace talks, Hillary Rodham Clinton advised President Obama.

"The Palestinians have strengthened their efforts on security and reforming Palestinian institutions, but they need to do more in these areas and on stopping incitement and preventing terror," the U.S. secretary of state told Obama in an Oct. 22 meeting, according to a statement provided by a White House official.

"Israelis have facilitated greater movement for Palestinians and responded to our call to stop all settlement activity by expressing a willingness to curtail settlement activity, but they need to translate that willingness into real, meaningful action and do more to improve the daily lives of Palestinians."

The briefing came as talks are stalled. Clinton met this week with Saeb Erekat, the top Palestinian negotiator, and spoke over the phone with Israeli leaders. George Mitchell, Obama's top envoy to the region, will return soon to spur talks, and Clinton will travel to Morocco next month to meet with Arab foreign ministers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants symbolic concessions from the Arabs to go ahead with the settlement freeze demanded by the Obama administration. The Palestinians want a total settlement freeze and to include Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees in the talks.

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Clinton: Israelis and Palestinians must do more

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