国际英语新闻：Reactions vary as Mideast peace talks resume

French President Nicolas Sarkozy had been informed of the talks' progress during a telephone conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday, Sarkozy's office said.

Sarkozy reiterated Paris' support for Washington's efforts to push the stalled peace talks, unveiling "the intention to take strong initiatives to help them set a fair, balanced and sustainable peace settlement."

He also called on all related parties to fully abolish any activity that might jeopardize the talks, adding that he believed the Union for Mediterranean summit in Madrid in November was an important chance for France to help build peace in the Middle East.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the talks, seeking to end a conflict that has boiled for six decades, would once again fail.

"Palestine's issue cannot be resolved through talks with the enemies of the Palestinian nation," he said.

The core objective for the ongoing peace talks is for both sides to strike a peace deal based on a two-state solution, which means building a democratic and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.

To achieve that, the Israelis and the Palestinians have to wipe out such obstacles as who controls Jerusalem, border disputes, Palestinian refugees, settlement construction, and water resources distribution.

The last direct peace talks ended in December 2008, when Israeli forces attacked the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas rocket fire on Israel.