The U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon wrapped up a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories with a proposal to include key Arab states in a future meeting of the so-called Middle East Peace Quartet. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem that Israel's prime minister says he is open to the proposal.
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Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will make extensive concessions if they lead to peace with his country's enemies. Ehud Olmert says Israel is willing to make extensive, painful and tough concessions if doing so encourages a dialogue to develop with Israel's enemies.
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A senior Norwegian official has met with the leader of the ruling Palestinian militant group Hamas, easing a diplomatic boycott. The meeting followed the formation of a Palestinian national unity government, and as Hamas launched its first attack against Israel since a cease-fire went into effect four months ago in the Gaza Strip. Robert Berger reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.
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Palestinian officials say a U.S. diplomat has held the first U.S. talks with a member of the new Palestinian unity government. The officials say U.S. Consul General Jacob Walles met Palestinian finance minister Salam Fayyad Tuesday. Fayyad is not affliliated with the main Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.
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Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa urged Israel on Tuesday to be more proactive in restarting the stalled Mideast peace talks following the creation of a new Palestinian unity government.
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U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has praised a five-year old Saudi Arabian peace proposal as a "pillar" in the search for Middle East peace. The Saudi plan is to be discussed later this month at an Arab summit in Riyadh. Mr. Ban spoke about the plan in a one-on-one VOA interview as he prepares for his first trip to the Middle East as U.N. chief. VOA Correspondent Peter Heinlein talked to Mr. Ban, and filed this report.
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The Quartet of Middle East peacemakers will discuss its approach to the new Palestinian unity government between Fatah and Hamas on Monday, European Union officials said.
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Palestinians have finalized an agreement on a national unity government, in which the ruling Islamic militant group Hamas agreed to share power with the rival and more moderate Fatah faction. But as Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Israel has criticized the deal.
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Representatives of the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah say they will present a unity government to Parliament Saturday for a vote of confidence. No further details were announced.
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The Islamic militant group Hamas, which heads the Palestinian Authority, has rejected criticism from al-Qaida, the group responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Hamas is under fire for joining forces with Palestinian moderates.
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