Moussa says US call for direct Palestinian-Israeli dialogue is futile

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa has stated that the US call to maintain direct dialogue between the Palestinians and Israelis will be futile unless the Israeli government changes its intransigent stances.

Following meetings he made with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in Washington, Moussa said the Israelis have failed to pressure the US to adopt their proposals concerning the second phase of redeployment. In a statement to Orient radio broadcast on Sunday, Moussa said that the US administration has stressed adherence to its initiative concerning redeployment and will give the Israelis a last chance.

Moussa expressed that the policy pursued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in refusing to abide by implementing UN resolutions would prompt the whole world to support the Palestinians and back them when their own independent state will be announced next year.