Clinton: Israel rift a challenge
2010-03-18 22:35
Moscow - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has described a rift with Israel over a Jerusalem construction project as a challenge, avoiding criticism of Tel Aviv.
Clinton on Thursday called for a re-launch of negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis in an effort to achieve a two-state solution. She said the US is still committed to brokering a peace deal.
She is in Moscow for talks among the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators - the US, Russia, the EU and the UN.
Hopes for talks faded last week after Israel announced the construction of 1 600 apartments for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem, the sector of the city that the Palestinians claim for a future capital.
The announcement caused a diplomatic crisis, and Clinton last week called the plan "a deeply negative signal".
- AP