In Italy, SecGen tells President Abbas now is the time for genuine Israeli-Palestinian negotiations – UN news item (excerpts)

Time Now for Real, Genuine Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations, says UN Chief

Lamenting the lack of progress in the Middle East peace process, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today stressed that it is important now, more than ever, for Israelis and Palestinians to engage in real, genuine and meaningful negotiations.

During a meeting in Rome with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Mr. Ban added that achieving the goal of an independent, viable Palestinian state was long overdue, according to information provided by a United Nations spokesperson.

The Secretary-General thanked Mr. Abbas for outlining Palestinian thoughts and plans on working toward statehood and on what was required for a return to negotiations.

Talks between the two sides have been stalled since late September following Israel’s refusal to extend a 10-month freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory. That decision prompted Mr. Abbas to withdraw from direct talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which had only resumed a few weeks earlier after a two-year hiatus.

Mr. Ban said during today’s meeting that he knew it was the Palestinian Authority’s priority to return to the negotiating table.

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