Jerusalem should be included in West Asia peace talks: Clinton

Secretary of state Hillary Clinton today assured a concerned Arab world that the US does not accept the legitimacy of the West Bank enclaves constructed by Israel and the disputed city Jerusalem must be a part of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

US wants the Israeli construction being halted "forever", Clinton said, adding, "There is no doubt that moving toward a state that reflects the aspirations and the rights of the Palestinian people must include all of the issues that have been discussed and mentioned by President (Barack) Obama, and that includes Jerusalem."

Recently, Clinton had hailed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance on settlement constructions in the occupied West Bank as "unprecedented" that led to concern in the Arab world.

Clinton today insisted "our policy on settlement has not changed. We do not accept the legitimacy of settlement activity. Ending all settlement activity current and future would be preferable" she told reporters after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

"We want to assure you that our goal is a real state, with a real sovereignty," she added at a joint press conference with Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Abul Gheit. Clinton described an Israeli offer to restrain but not halt construction represents "positive movement forward" toward resuming peace negotiations.

She met Mubarak during a hastily arranged stopover here to soothe Arab concerns that US is backing off demands for an Israeli settlement halt.