US/Middle East

Netanyahu Abbas shake hands ... but that's all

Article published on the 2009-09-23 Latest update 2009-09-23 09:01 TU

Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Barack Obama (C) and Mahmud Abbas in New York, 22 September 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

A highly-anticipated meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in New York Tuesday evening failed to produce any concrete results apart from a stiff handshake in front of the cameras.

US President Barack Obama has been pushing the two leaders to restart peace talks that have been stalled since the Israeli offensive in Gaza in December.

Since assuming office, Obama has repeatedly emphasised the need for Israel to freeze its settlement construction in the West Bank as a condition for the resumption of talks.

While Netanyahu has said that he is open to the idea, Israel has failed to agree to a freeze over conflicts on how long it would last.

The Palestinian leadership, perhaps encouraged by the US’s stance, has hardened its position that no talks will occur so long as cranes are at work.

American Middle East envoy George Mitchell spent last week shuttling back and forth between the two leaders in an attempt to advance the talks, but was unsuccessful.

Obama released a frustrated statement after the failed meeting.

"Simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations," Obama said, adding that final status talks on forming a Palestinian state "must begin, and begin soon."

The next big Middle East event takes place Thursday when US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets her counterparts from Russia, the United Nations and the European Union, the so-called quartet that launched the peace roadmap.

Israeli and Palestinian delegates will not be on hand.