US secretary of state Hillary Clinton this evening invited Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas to resume direct talks in Washington on September 2nd with an aim to reaching a peace deal within one year.
"There have been difficulties in the past, there will be difficulties ahead. ... I ask the parties to persevere, to keep moving forward even through difficult times and to continue working to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region," Ms Clinton said in a statement.
She said US president Barack Obama had also invited King Abdullah of Jordan and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak to attend the Washington summit "in view of their critical role in the effort."
Ms Clinton said the Washington talks, which pick up direct negotiations that Mr Abbas broke off in 2008, would be aimed at resolving all final status issues between the two sides and should take place without preconditions.
The ultimate goal is the establishment of a viable, democratic and independent state of Palestine existing side by side in peace with Israel.
US Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell said the US was waiting for a formal response from the parties.
"We have been in consultation with both. We expect to hear from them shortly, but it will be their decision on whether to accept," Mr Mitchell told a news briefing.
Mr Mitchell said that Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Palestinian territory in the Gaza strip, would have no role in the talks and repeated US calls for Israel not to resume housing starts in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
"Our position on settlements is well known and remains unchanged and we expect both parties to promote an environment conducive to negotiations," Mr Mitchell said.
He said the US believed that a peace deal within one year was achievable, but that it would be up to Israel and the Palestinians to figure out exactly how - albeit with US help.
"We recognize that this is a bilateral negotiation and we have indicated to both parties that as necessary and appropriate we will offer bridging proposals, but I repeat this is a direct bilateral negotiation between the parties," he said.
Reuters