Hague backs Mideast talks progress

William Hague said the announcement of peace talks was 'a beginning, not an end'
20 July 2013

Foreign Secretary William Hague has welcomed the announcement that Israel and the Palestinians will meet to finalise an agreement on relaunching peace talks for the first time in five years.

US secretary of state John Kerry said the two sides would be in Washington soon and Mr Hague said Britain "stands ready to do all we can" to support the peace process.

The Foreign Secretary commended the leadership shown by Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, but stressed "this is of course a beginning, not an end".

Mr Hague said: "I warmly welcome Secretary Kerry's announcement this evening that Israel and the Palestinians have reached an agreement that establishes the basis for resuming direct final status negotiations.

"I pay tribute to the efforts of Secretary Kerry and his team, and I commend the leadership shown by both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas.

"This is of course a beginning, not an end. Britain stands ready to do all we can over the coming weeks and months to support the parties and the US in their efforts to achieve a lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people."

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