Clinton Holding Mideast Peace Talks

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is holding talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials on relaunching the Middle East peace process.

Clinton, joined by U.S. envoy George Mitchell, met Saturday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi.

She also is scheduled to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel.

The Israeli leader said Friday he looks forward to discussions on resuming peace negotiations with the Palestinians "as soon as possible." Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke following a meeting with Mitchell in Jerusalem.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley says Clinton's visits reflect the U.S. administration's commitment to work through the challenges that U.S. negotiators have been facing as they pursue "comprehensive Middle East peace."

The Palestinians are demanding that Israel stop settlement activity in the occupied territories before they are willing to resume talks. Israel is offering only a partial halt to Jewish settlement construction.

Also, the two sides have yet to agree on the future of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the borders of a future Palestinian state.