Palestinians: Hope For Mideast Talks 'Diminishing'

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Israel and the Palestinians struck a grim tone over their renewed peace talks at a Security Council debate on Tuesday, with both sides lashing out at each other over recent violence and the Palestinian envoy saying "tangible progress remains elusive."

U.N. Under Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman, however, was more optimistic, saying negotiations have "picked up the pace" since the quartet of Middle East peacemakers — the United Nations, United States, Russia and the European Union — met in September in New York for the first time in more than a year. Feltman said the quartet envoys are now meeting every month to assess the progress.

Under heavy U.S. pressure, the peace talks resumed in July after five years amid deep skepticism and low expectations from both sides. The negotiations are taking place in secrecy and neither side has given details on their content.

At the Security Council, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour and Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor gave no signs of budging on long-held stances that have obstructed peace prospects for decades.

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