US President Barack Obama has said “too much blood” has been spilled in the Middle East as historic peace talks get underway.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting in direct talks for the first time in nearly 2 years.
And Mr. Netanyahu has pledged to try and find peace with his neighbours.
“President Abbas – you are my partner in peace” he said.
“It is up to us, with the help of our friends, to conclude the agonising conflict between our peoples and to afford them a new beginning” he added.
Analysts are skeptical however that the talks would yield significant breakthroughs in the decades-old conflict.
The Washington talks are being held ahead of a looming deadline.
September 26th is the expiration of an Israeli settlement construction freeze.
If Netanyahu refuses to extend that freeze or the conditions of an extension are unacceptable to Abbas the Palestinian leader could walk out and the talks could end.
The United States would like to see an agreement within a year though analysts said that time frame was more symbolic than firm.
