Obama Admin Urges Israeli-Palestinian Final-Status Talks, but Abandons Insistence on Israeli Settlement Freeze

This latest meeting comes on the heels of a failed attempt by US Envoy George Mitchell to reach a deal with Israel over settlements. Israel has repeatedly rejected US and Palestinian demands for a total freeze on settlement building. On Tuesday Mitchell that the US did not see any issue as a pre-condition for future peace talks.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, reiterated Israel"s obligation to freeze settlements but also praised Obama for his efforts.

Back in Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri called Obama’s push to restart peace talks and his decision to send US envoy Mitchell back to the region a “flagrant failure.”

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said there had been a “general agreement that the peace process should resume as soon as possible with no preconditions.” Israel"s Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak was positive about the meeting.

For more on the prospects for a just peace in the region, we"re joined now by two guests. Here in New York, we have Diana Buttu, a Palestinian lawyer and former adviser to the Negotiations Support Unit of the Palestinian Liberation Organization or the PLO.

We’re joined from Boston by Israeli historian Avi Shlaim who is a Professor of international relations at the University of Oxford in the UK and the author of several books including “The Lion of Jordan,” “War and Peace in the Middle East,” and “The Iron Wall.” His latest book just out this month is called “Israel and Palestine: Reappraisals, Revisions, Refutations.”

Diana Buttu, Palestinian lawyer and former adviser to the Negotiations Support Unit of the Palestinian Liberation Organization or the PLO.?

Avi Shlaim, Professor of international relations at the University of Oxford in the UK. He is a well-known Israeli historian and the author of several books including “The Lion of Jordan”, “War and Peace in the Middle East,” and “The Iron Wall.” His latest book just out this month is called “Israel and Palestine: Reappraisals, Revisions, Refutations.”