Spain FM Calls for Direct Israel-Palestinian Negotiations

28 July 2010

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, right, and his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos give a press conference after their meeting in Jerusalem, 28 Jul 2010

Speaking after meeting with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem, Mr. Moratinos said both Israel and the Palestinians should enter direct, face-to-face talks without preconditions.

"Meeting together, the two leaders, the Palestinian Authority and Prime Minister Netanyahu, meeting together urgently, directly, without pre-conditions, I think is the best way to move forward," he said.

The United States and the European Union have been pushing for a return to direct talks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is willing to start direct negotiations. Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas has said he wants a complete freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank as a condition for direct talks.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said a temporary freeze on settlements - which is set to expire September 25 - is a separate issue from face-to-face talks. "It is two separate issues; we clarified our position from the beginning, that this moratorium is only for 10 months and direct talks is a very important issue for both sides, not only for Israel. And we think that we must start immediately with direct talks. And I want to clarify again that there is no place for any moratorium after 25 September," he said.