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UPDATE 1-Netanyahu tells Clinton he is serious about peace

by Reuters
Thursday, 11 November 2010 21:27 GMT

* Netanyahu seeks security deal with U.S.

* Clinton says will find way forward on peace talks (Updates with meetings still under way)

By Jeffrey Heller

NEW YORK, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he was "quite serious" about talks with the Palestinians as he met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton amid an impasse which threatens to scuttle the U.S.-backed peace negotiations.

"We'll be talking about how to resume and continue this process to get a historic agreement with peace and security between us and the Palestinians," Netanyahu said as he began a lengthy meeting with Clinton in New York.

"We also hope to broaden it to many other Arab countries ... we are quite serious about doing it and we want to get on with it."

The meeting follows Israel's decision to proceed with a new housing project in part of the West Bank that it annexed to Jerusalem 43 years ago, underscoring Palestinian fears that Netanyahu's government will push ahead with settlements regardless of the impact on the peace process.

Clinton, who on Wednesday said the Israeli decision on settlement building was counterproductive, said she still believed that both Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were serious about the talks.

"The prime minister and President Abbas are both very committed to a two-state solution. And we are going to find a way forward," she said.

The meetings lasted longer than either side anticipated. U.S. and Israeli officials were still talking well into the afternoon, with Netanyahu scheduled to leave for home later in the evening.

U.S.-ISRAELI UNDERSTANDINGS

Israeli officials say Netanyahu intended to discuss with Clinton the need for forging broad U.S.-Israeli understandings on Israel's security needs in any eventual peace agreement in light of security challenges expected in the coming decade.

"The chances of reaching a peace agreement will be improved significantly by achieving comprehensive security understandings between Israel and the United States," Netanyahu said.

Israel wants a long-term military presence in the Jordan Valley along the eastern border of a future Palestinian state as well as financial help to pay for security arrangements that would be necessary if a peace deal is achieved.

The New York meeting comes as the United States works to revive talks that began in Washington on Sept. 2 but were suspended by the Palestinians three weeks later when Netanyahu refused to extend a 10-month limited building freeze in West Bank settlements.

Netanyahu, whose governing coalition is dominated by pro-settler parties, has resisted calls for a freeze on settlement construction. But U.S. officials say they still hope to find a formula to revive the talks, which U.S. President Barack Obama has said could yield a deal within a year to set up an independent Palestinian state.

With the peace process in limbo, the Palestinians have stepped up calls for the international community to recognize Palestinian statehood now -- a move the United States fears could further complicate the situation.

Abbas said on Thursday the Palestinians would have to consider alternatives to the peace process given the expansion of settlements on land that the Palestinians hope will eventually become their state.

"They (the Israelis) are undertaking unilateral actions every day," Abbas said in the West Bank city of Ramallah. [ID:nLDE6AA17F]

Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev told CNN that all issues should be on the table in future talks with the Palestinians, which he said should resume immediately without any preconditions.

"Let's negotiate. Let's find solutions. Let's work hard at creating peace," Regev said. "I don't understand frankly the Palestinian position where they say 'we want peace, but we don't want to talk to Israel.'" (Writing by Andrew Quinn; editing by Mohammad Zargham)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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