Mideast leaders’ first face-to-face meeting

THE Israeli and Palestinian leaders shook hands at the start of their first face- to-face meeting yesterday, hosted by President Barack Obama, but the small gesture was unlikely to translate into a quick resumption of peace talks.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remain far apart on key issues, including Israeli settlement expansion and the agenda of future talks.

Obama said at the start of the trilateral talks that the sides have made some progress, but have much further to go. He told both leaders it’s time to find a way to break the deadlock. “There is a powerful sense of urgency,” he said.