Middle East

In 2010, the Israelis and Palestinians held seven rounds of indirect proximity talks, jumpstarted in May by international diplomatic activity mediated by the United States. The proximity talks led to a bilateral meeting on 2 September in Washington, D.C., between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These talks were considered an important step towards the resumption of direct bilateral negotiations, which had not been held since 2008. In late September, however, the Palestinians disengaged from further talks following renewed settlement building by Israel.

Related Subject(s): United Nations