The European Parliament welcomes the resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian authority and stands ready to give its support "every step of the way," the Parliament's President Jerzy Buzek said on September 2 2010.

"While we condemn to the utmost the deadly attack that killed four Israelis in the West Bank, we are encouraged by the declared determination of the parties not to allow any acts of violence to derail the hope of a negotiated peace between the two peoples," Buzek said.

"The European Parliament stands ready to give all its support, at every step of the way, to the direct negotiations which begin today, and to the final settlement that will lead to an emergence of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state living side by side, in peace and security, with Israel, and which should allow for a just, lasting and comprehensive regional peace, on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions and taking into account valuable contributions like the Arab Peace Initiative.

"The agreement, which should be reached within a defined period of time, will be a fulfilment not only of our hopes for a stable, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Middle East, but most of all, of legitimate expectations of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples," he said..

By working closely with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, as well as through the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, which bring together parliamentarians from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the European Parliament would remain actively engaged in supporting the ongoing negotiations, Buzek said.

"We strongly believe that by building mutual understanding and confidence, we will thus be able to contribute to the successful conclusion of the negotiation process which begins today."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the August 31 attack, in which four Israelis died, among them a pregnant woman.

"This attack must be recognised for what it is: a cynical and blatant attempt to undermine the direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations," Ban said.

The UN News Service reported that attack was also condemned by UN Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry, who in urged all sides "not to allow the enemies of peace to affect the negotiations about to be launched, and to progress with determination and courage on behalf of both peoples, towards a final settlement".

The Voice of America reported US president Barack Obama as saying Israelis and Palestinians must seize the opportunity for achieving a lasting peace presented by the resumption of direct negotiations. 

Obama sat down with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, and other key Mideast leaders ahead of the September 2 2010 formal opening of direct talks at the US state department.

One by one, Mr. Obama welcomed the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, and Egypt to the Oval Office, in this his first intensive foray at making progress on issues that have been so intractable for previous US presidents.

In one of three appearances before television cameras, with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton at his side, Obama described some of what he told Netanyahu and Abbas.

"As I told each of them today, this moment of opportunity may not soon come again," Obama said. "They cannot afford to let it slip away.  Now is the time for leaders of courage and vision to deliver the peace that their people deserve."

Obama said that the goal of the talks is resolution of all final status issues, and a negotiated settlement leading to an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state living in peace and security with a Jewish state of Israel.

If both sides do not commit to the talks in earnest, the president said, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue to fester and consume another generation. 

Earlier, Obama and Netanyahu denounced in strong terms the incident in Hebron in which four Israelis were killed by a Palestinian gunman.  The Islamist militant group Hamas claimed responsibility. Obama vowed that such attacks would not be allowed to derail peace efforts. 

Among key issues in resumed direct talks is the 10-month partial freeze on new settlement construction in the West Bank.  The freeze expires on September 26, and the Palestinian side has insisted that Israel extend its moratorium on construction.

Netanyahu has emphasised the need for Palestinian recognition of Israel and assurances of effective and durable security measures and an end to violence.

Before a working dinner, all five leaders appeared before the media in the White House East Room to address the central goal - achieving a final settlement within the next year of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Frequently turning to Abbas, Netanyahu said he had come to find a historic compromise that will enable Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security and dignity. 

"Let us not get bogged down by every difference between us," Netanyahu said. "Let us direct our courage, our thinking and our decisions at those historic decisions that lie ahead."

Abbas said the time has come to make peace, end Israel's occupation of the West Bank, and for both peoples to live side by side.

"It is time that an independent Palestinian state be established with sovereignty side by side with the state of Israel," Abbas said. "It is time to put an end to the struggle in the Middle East."

Saying Middle East peace has been an elusive hope for two decades, Mubarak called on Israel to freeze new settlement activity, while Jordan's king Abdullah spoke about the risk of failure.

Mubarak said:"It is no longer acceptable or conceivable on the verge of the second decade of the third millennium that we fail to achieve just and true peace."

Jordan's Abdullah said:"There are those on both sides who want us to fail, who will do everything in their power to disrupt our efforts today.  Because when the Palestinians and Israelis find peace, when young men and women can look to a future of promise and opportunity, radicals and extremists lose their most potent appeal."

Clinton was scheduled to formally open the re-launched direct negotiations on September 2, followed by additional public remarks by Netanyahu and  Abbas, before private talks begin.