Ramallah–Egypt's foreign minister says there has been no breakthrough in restarting Israeli-Palestinian talks, which have run aground over Israeli settlement building.
The US is trying to break the impasse between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas says he won't resume talks unless Netanyahu halts settlement building. Netanyahu has refused to extend a 10-month ban on housing starts in West Bank settlements that expired on 26 September.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit met Thursday with Abbas in the West Bank. He said Egypt, an important mediator, supports the Palestinian position.
