国际英语新闻：Israeli settlement freeze necessary for Middle East direct peace talks: Egyptian FM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held on Thursday the first round of direct talks in Washington.

The two leaders agreed to make efforts to solve all final status issues concerning borders of a new Palestinian state, security, refugees and the future of Jerusalem, within one year's time as expected by the United States.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel's position on a unilateral settlement construction freeze set to end on Sept. 26, "remains unchanged", raising doubts about the possibility of success in the current direct talks.

Netanyahu and Abbas are scheduled to hold a second round of talks on Sept. 14 to 15, reportedly in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.