Obama encourages talks because alternative is status quo
US president says he knows talks will be difficult but alternative puts both parties at risk; moratorium on settlement construction has proven effective.
By ASSOCIATED PRESSObama Peace Talks 311(photo credit: Associated Press)
WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama said on Friday that he is encouraging peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians because the alternative is a status quo that puts both parties, and the United States, at risk.Obama told a White House news conference that he knows the talks begun this month will be difficult, but he said the Israeli and Palestinian leaders know they need a deal, and that they need one another.Obama said the United States will stay engaged in the negotiations, including a visit to the region by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton next week.Obama also said that Israel's moratorium on settlement construction has proven effective.
