国际英语新闻：U.S. invites Israeli, Palestinian leaders to direct peace talks in Washington

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on Friday the United States has invited the Israeli and the Palestinian leaders to launch Middle East peace direct talks on Sept. 2 in Washington D.C..

"I have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas to meet on Sept. 2 in Washington D.C. to relaunch direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues," Clinton said at a State Department special press briefing, joined by U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell.

Clinton said that the peace negotiations can be completed within one year, adding the talks should start without precondition.

She also said U.S. President Barack Obama has invited Jordanian King Abdullah and Egyptian President Mubarak to attend, "in view of their critical role in this effort."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes a statement to the press at the State Department in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Aug. 20, 2010. Hillary announced on Friday the United States has invited Israel and the Palestinians to launch Middle East peace direct talks on Sept. 2 in Washington D.C.

Clinton said President Obama will hold bilateral meetings with the four Middle East leaders, followed by a dinner with them on Sept. 1. The Quartet representative, former British prime minister Tony Blair, has also been invited to the dinner.

"There have been difficulties in the past. There will be difficult times ahead. Without a doubt, we will hit more obstacles, " said Clinton, admitting the process will be tough.

Meanwhile, the Middle East Quartet, namely the United Nations, Russia, the U.S., and the European Union, issued a statement on Friday.

In the statement, the Quartet said all the direct, bilateral negotiations should "lead to a settlement, negotiated between the parties, that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors."

The Quartet also stated the peace talks can be completed within one year.

The United States has been pressuring the Palestinians and Israelis to start direct peace talks by September, deeming it the only way to strike a peace deal.

Netanyahu said he is ready to sit down face-to-face with the Palestinians but refuses to accept any precondition.