Palestinians, Israelis call for stepped up int'l support to achieve peace

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Palestinian UN observer Riyad Mansour and Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman each told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that an agreement between their leaders last November to reach a peace settlement needs more international backing. Gillerman said suspending talks between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would play into the hands of extremists who want the talks to fail. "This collective resolve must be shown first and foremost by this council," Gillerman said. Mansour also called for "collective effort" by the council and others to rescue the peace effort. "It's in a very critical situation," he said.