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Last update - 02:05 19/09/2008
UN official urges next Israeli government to stop settlement expansion
By DPA
Tags: Tzipi Livni, Israel, UN

The UN's Mideast envoy said Thursday that the peace process requires stepped-up action to reach an agreement by 2008 and that the next Israeli government should end the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Robert Serry, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said in a UN Security Council meeting that decisive progress must be made in settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as negotiations are at a crossroads.

"While there are some positive developments, there are also several factors that cause concern," Robert Serry told the UN Security Council. "The important period ahead must see decisive advances towards peace."
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"Despite continuing negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization," he said, "it appears so far that no agreement has been reached on the core issues."

"However, it also appears that there have been substantive discussions, the potential of which must be built on with a continuation of intensive
negotiations," Serry said.

He addressed the council a day after Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was elected as the new leader of the Kadima Party, replacing corruption-tainted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Livni, who has played a central role in peace talks with the Palestinians and prefers negotiation to confrontation, said she intends to form a new government

The UN envoy called on Livni, who could be the next prime minister of Israel, to end the Jewish settlements in order to help the peace process.

Serry welcomed Israel's release of 198 Palestinian prisoners and the dismantling of several checkpoints. However, Serry said there were still over 600 obstacles to free movement in the West Bank. Also, he criticized Israel for its insufficient assistance to the Palestinians which would otherwise allow them to make more progress in security and the economy.

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      1.   The UN Call Incites & Emboldens The Arab League War/Terror 02:01  |  Joseph.E 19/09/08
      2.   And not one word about terrorism 03:03  |  Arie 19/09/08
      3.   expansion 04:03  |  colin 19/09/08
      4.   UN Should Call For Gilad`s Release 04:15  |  nate 19/09/08
      5.   Freeze Them Both 06:28  |  Jeff Northridge 19/09/08
      6.   Divided Nations Urges Israel to stop building on their land/get 06:33  |  glenna 19/09/08
      7.   UN doesn`t call the PA or Hamas to stop their crimes. 06:41  |  Fortuna Benmayor 19/09/08
      8.   Israel needs to stand firm and look out for its own ... 07:24  |  Jean Van Daem 19/09/08
      9.   UN violates its OWN"Univ.Decl.ofHuman Rts#13..freedom of residenc 10:08  |  sam 19/09/08
      10.   #5 The simple answer to Jeff`s claim 10:31  |  Johnboy 19/09/08
      11.   #5 No, he is not, Jeff 10:39  |  Johnboy 19/09/08
      12.   the uns endless supply of idiots who know sfa about the mid east 11:09  |  v.hardman 19/09/08
      13.   Correct UN move to stop Settler Terrorism in OCCUPIED TERRITORIES 11:23  |  Ivar 19/09/08
      14.   #13 no one has explained to ivar there are no 13:59  |  v.hardman 19/09/08
      15.   put and end to the buffoons charter endlessly repeated in these 14:39  |  v.hardman 19/09/08
      16.   The UN is stupid 16:07  |  lady from USA 19/09/08
      17.   Johnboy 16:15  |  lady from USA 19/09/08
      18.   The UN 16:29  |  John Allen 19/09/08
      19.   US expatriate, 16, needs to understand her Bible better 17:48  |  Ivar 19/09/08
      20.   Lady from the USA 18:03  |  Mike Friedman 19/09/08
      21.   Pointing the finger at Israel, its pathetic gumbo. 18:19  |  Stephen. 19/09/08
      22.   Johnboy, Jews have UN`s protection too 20:05  |  RW 19/09/08
      23.   When does Israel take responsibility 20:22  |  Dave Duncan 19/09/08
      24.   Johnboy, Israel is also protected by UN 21:04  |  RW 19/09/08
      25.   Dave Duncan: When Will You Take Responsibility? 21:23  |  Tex 19/09/08
      26.   Well said Jeff 21:30  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 19/09/08
      27.   Thanks Tex--but 23:12  |  Dave Duncan 19/09/08
      28.   The UN should poke its nose somewhere else 01:02  |  Free Gilad Shalit 20/09/08
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