LONDON, February 15, 2011 (WAFA) – British Foreign Secretary William Hague Tuesday called on the United States to support the 1967 lines as the borders of the Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital in order to restart Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

Hague, who had just returned from a trip to the Middle East, made this statement in a briefing to the British parliament on recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa.

“Talks need to take place on the basis of clear parameters,” he said. “In our view, the entire international community, including the United States, should now support 1967 borders as the basis for resumed negotiations. The result should be two states, with Jerusalem as the future capital of both, and a fair settlement for refugees.”

He warned that governments may “draw the wrong conclusion from instability in the Middle East and pull back from efforts to restart the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.”

He said, “We should draw the opposite conclusion, which is that we need to see an urgent return to talks so that people's legitimate aspirations for two states can be fulfilled through negotiations.”

Hague said he discussed this issue with Jordan’s King Abdullah, stressing that “in a region of uncertainty, the certainty provided by an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians would be of immense significance.”

He called on both Palestinians and Israelis “to show the visionary boldness to return to talks and make genuine compromises.”

M.A.