Remarks by Secretary Clinton and Prime Minister Netanyahu

01 November 2009

Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Palestinian and Israeli leaders October 31 in a new effort to convince both sides to resume stalled peace talks.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Jerusalem, Clinton said, “I want to see both sides begin as soon as possible in negotiations.” She met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on October 31 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, then flew to Jerusalem later in the day for meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials. Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, the U.S. special envoy for Middle East peace, was with Clinton during the meetings.

Clinton said the important thing for the Israelis and Palestinians is to restart the negotiations. “I gave the same message today when I met with President Abbas,” she said. President Obama met with Netanyahu and Abbas during the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in September in New York to encourage the two sides to set aside differences and resume talks.

A significant sticking point that has held up talks has been the question of settlements in the West Bank territories. Palestinian negotiators have said previously that before talks can resume, settlement construction must halt. In talks with Clinton, the Israelis offered a policy of restraint.

“We know that negotiations often take positions that then have to be worked through once the actual process starts,” Clinton said. “President Obama and I are committed to a comprehensive peace agreement because we do believe that it holds out the best promise for the security and future of Israel, and for the aspirations of the Palestinians.”

Clinton said the Israelis offered “restraint” in settlement construction in the West Bank territories that includes no new settlements, which she described as unprecedented in the context of prior negotiations.

Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority, told CNN in an interview that halting all settlement construction in the West Bank is important to the Palestinians before talks could resume.

After her meetings with Israeli officials, Clinton left Jerusalem and arrived in Marrakesh, Morocco, early November 1 to attend the sixth Forum for the Future, which brings together leaders from the Middle East and North Africa, the Group of Eight major advanced economies and other European nations, civil society organizations, and some international businesses to discuss economic development, trade and investment, and the advancement of democracy and good governance. While at the Forum, Clinton is expected to hold talks with Arab leaders on regional security issues.

Clinton held three days of talks with Pakistani officials before her meetings with the Israelis and Palestinians.

A transcript of comments from Clinton and Netanyahu is available on America.gov.