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Itongadol.- Israeli and US representatives held high-level talks in Washington on Thursday night, as part of the semi-annual series of US-Israel meetings dubbed \’Strategic Dialogue.\’
The US-Israel discussions, headed by Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz and Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, centered on a host of hot-button issues – from the changes engulfing the Middle East, to the ever-expanding threat of Islamic State, to joining forces against regional terrorism.
The US State Department emphasized the importance of reaching a lasting agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, following the latest round of armed conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The parties discussed the recent seven-week conflict in the coastal territory and the urgent need to achieve durable peace and a permanent halt to the fighting. Representatives of both sides have agreed to take action to rehabilitate and provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, a statement by the State Department said, while at the same time pushing to strengthen the Palestinian Authority.
Washington reiterated its concern over settlement activity, in light of Israel\’s most recent decision to expand its state land in the West Bank by 4,000 dunams.
"The two sides agreed to continue to consult closely on regional issues," concluded the statement by the Department of State.
The Israeli delegation, which includes officials from the Mossad, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission and Defense and Foreign Ministries, left for the US capital earlier this week to attend two-day talks surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.