UN`s Ban presses Netanyahu, Abbas over peace talks

United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has spoken separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to encourage them to keep alive the faltering peace process.

Ban spoke to the pair individually by telephone on Yesterday, amid fears the US-backed peace talks are close to collapse. The United Nations chief "strongly encouraged both sides to continue to negotiate constructively," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said today. He also "expressed the hope that the two leaders seize the opportunity offered by US efforts to find a way to move towards a two-state solution," Dujarric added. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are scheduled to meet again Wednesday with US envoy Martin Indyk.