Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Mideast peace talks

|
|
 
  
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, attends a meeting with Israel's President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem February 19, 2009. Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu's chances of becoming prime minister appeared to improve significantly on Thursday after he won the backing of Lieberman, a kingpin politician who heads a far-right party. (UPI Photo/Ronen Zvulun/Pool) 
Published: Oct. 8, 2009 at 8:12 AM
By United Press International

JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Envoy George Mitchell is looking for an "early launch" of talks between Israelis and Palestinians but an Israeli leader said peace in the region can't be expected soon.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio assumptions that agreements on the biggest issues between the Palestinians and Israelis can be reached in the next several years are made by those who "don't understand the situation and (are) spreading delusions."

Mitchell and other U.S. officials have been looking to accelerate the peace process in the Middle East. He met Thursday with Israeli President Shimon Peres and said a quick resumption of talks would be "an essential step" toward a "comprehensive peace." A U.S. official told The Jerusalem Post the United States was working with a sense of urgency.

Lieberman's radio appearance was separate from Mitchell's visit although the two were also to talk Thursday.

Rather than a comprehensive settlement, Lieberman said the two sides should make a series of interim agreements to stabilize the situation and address major issues in "a much later stage."

Topics: Avigdor Lieberman
Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
1 of 25
Meryl Streep and Colin Firth attend the "BAFTA" ceremony in London
View Caption
fark
There are many layers to the OWS onion, and each one is more difficult than the last to peel back....
Remember that YouTube Dad who shot daughter's laptop? Apparently some of the local city leaders...
America has a long history of being VERY VERY ANGRY. But we get over it
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs in the hospital
Hugh Hefner's son accused of abusing a woman. Meanwhile, Hef's girlfriends have to see him naked...
Jesus just left Chicago. Photoshop where he's going