Hillary Clinton directs peace talks

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Israeli and Palestinian leaders began direct peace negotiations in Washington Thursday, a day after pledging to work to end a decades-long conflict.

George Mitchell, President Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, said both Abbas and Netanyahu have agreed to meet every two weeks, The New York Times reported. Their first post-Washington talks would be in the Middle East in the middle of the month, immediately after the Israeli moratorium on new settlement construction expires.

Mitchell said both he and Secretary of State Clinton will be at the mid-September sessions, the Los Angeles Times said.

Thursday's talks were at the State Department under Clinton's leadership.

"By being here today, you each have taken an important step toward freeing your peoples from the shackles of a history we cannot change and moving toward a future of peace and dignity that only you can create," Clinton said with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas by her side.

"We cannot and we will not impose a solution. … But we are convinced that if you move forward in good faith and do not waiver in your commitment to succeed on behalf of your people, we can resolve all of the core issues within one year," Clinton said.

For his part, Netanyahu said "a true peace, a lasting peace, would be achieved only with mutual and painful concessions from both sides" and that the people of Israel "are prepared to walk this road and to go a long way, a long way in a short time."

Abbas thanked Clinton for bringing the parties together, saying, "We want to have a new era in our region, an era that brings peace, justice, security, and prosperity for all."

President Barack Obama met with Netanyahu, Abbas, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Wednesday in the Oval Office.

"We are but five men," Obama said. "But when we come together, we will not be alone. We will be joined by the generations of those who have gone before."

Netanyahu said security of Israel must be ensured and Abbas said settlement activity in the West Bank must be frozen.

The inclusion of Mubarak and Abdullah underscores the Obama administration's hopes to fashion a regional solution, The New York Times said. Egypt and Jordan are critical to providing Israel with security guarantees that would help pave the way for creation of a Palestinian state.

Congressional lawmakers say chances for Middle East peace talks being successful are slim, The Hill reported.

"The risks are high because if the administration is unable to deliver it only aggravates the situation on the ground," said Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the House Republican whip.

Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, offered "strong support" to Israeli and Palestinian leaders while warning that they must "take personal charge" of the talks.