By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : The US State Department has said that the deadlock in forming the Israeli government and the subsequent parliamentary elections could complicate the peace process.
“What we have here is the best opportunity to try to reach a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians in terms of this process, a negotiated settlement soon is the ultimate goal,” said State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack Monday.
“We are still committed to the Annapolis process and its goals,” he said, adding that “clearly the possible Israeli elections complicates the issue.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, tapped by Israeli President Shimon Perez to form a new government, failed to do so Sunday and asked Israelis to go to the polls in two months for an early parliamentary elections.
McCormack said that Livni and the government led by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are still committed to the peace process.
“I expect that the parties will continue working on the various aspects of this, the political, the institution building, improving the situation on the ground, as well as maintaining that important international regional support for the process,” said McCormack.
Egypt is also mediating between Fatah and Hamas to achieve Palestinian reconciliation and overcome the implications of Hamas security takeover of Gaza two years ago.