Looks like there are 2 deadlines coming up this weekend. The expiration of a 10 month freeze, Israel and Palestine on the 26th and the selection for Prime Minister for Iraq's Nat'l Alliance Bloc by the 26th - 27th?
2010-09-25
U.S., Palestinian officials meet as Israeli settlement freeze deadline looms
NEW YORK, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas here on Friday evening, just two days before the Sunday expiry of a 10-month freeze on Israel's new settlement construction in the occupied territory.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the general debate of the UN General Assembly, took place after Clinton met Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Monday, part of Clinton's several discussions with other Middle East leaders while they are at the UN Headquarters in New York to attend the summit on the UN anti-poverty goals, which started on Monday, and the annual general debate, which opened here on Thursday morning.
Clinton is engaged in "a pretty intense set of negotiations" right now with both Palestinians and Israelis, a senior U.S. official said here.
Abbas, who reported "nothing new" from his Friday meeting with Clinton, said he will have another round of talks with her on Saturday.
The United States relaunched the direct peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis early this month in Washington in a bid to solve all outstanding issues within one year. However, the immediate threat of the peace efforts is that the current settlement restrictions expire on Sept. 26.
The Israelis said that they will let the restrictions expire while Palestinians vowed to drop out of the peace talks if Israelis resume the settlement construction.
English.news.cn
