LOC09:05
06:05 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept 27 (KUNA) -- The United States affirmed late on Sunday
that it will remain in touch with Palestinians and Israelis in the coming days
to address the expiration of Israel's settlement freeze moratorium.
Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley told
reporters that US policy "on settlement construction has not changed. We
remain in close touch with both parties and will be meeting with them again in
the coming days".
"We remain focused on the goal of advancing negotiations toward a two-state
solution and encourage the parties to take constructive actions toward that
goal," he added.
The Palestinian Authority insists that peace talks with Israel would be
halted without a compromise on this issue as the expiration of the moratorium
just expired.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke yesterday with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Quartet Representative Toni Blair for
that end.
Crowley noted that the US administration keeps "pushing for the talks to
continue" as US envoy George Mitchell and Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey
Feltman also met with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in New York
yesterday. (end)
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