Peres is meeting with diplomats and Mahmoud Abbas, Barak is meeting with Hillary Clinton, but there is no sign of Netanyahu at the central and important assembly.

Negotiations are the only way for the parties to resolve all final status issues, Ban says; al-Sharq al-Awsat reports PA will opt out of direct negotiations if settlement freeze not extended.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges foreign donors to speed up aid and warns of more destruction.

Ban accuses countries of violating UN cease-fire resolution after Second Lebanon War in 2006, slams Hezbollah for maintaining military capacity.

Peres is meeting with diplomats and Mahmoud Abbas, Barak is meeting with Hillary Clinton, but there is no sign of Netanyahu at the central and important assembly.

Negotiations are the only way for the parties to resolve all final status issues, Ban says; al-Sharq al-Awsat reports PA will opt out of direct negotiations if settlement freeze not extended.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges foreign donors to speed up aid and warns of more destruction.

Ban accuses countries of violating UN cease-fire resolution after Second Lebanon War in 2006, slams Hezbollah for maintaining military capacity.