'World must seize moment for West Asia peace'

Jerusalem, Feb 7: World leaders would be guilty of ''gross dereliction'' not to use an opportunity in the West Asia to push forward peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said today.

Beckett told journalists she hoped common ground could be found now that all sides of the conflict saw peace as necessary for their own interests.

''Despite the difficult and long-standing nature of those many problems there is perhaps an opportunity available to us now if we try to work to identify a common ground,'' she said.

''Success is by no means guaranteed. But it would be a gross dereliction on the part of all the international community not to take advantage of such an opportunity,'' she told a joint news conference with Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni.

Beckett said her visit to the region was an opportunity to find out what practical help Britain could offer to get the two sides back on track in talks on the so-called road map to peace.

A breakthrough would be a huge boost for British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Battling bruising opinion polls and public criticism over his support for the US-led war in Iraq, Blair has made progress in the West Asia a key aim before he steps down later this year.

Livni agreed that the timing was right for a breakthrough -- even though Palestinian violence has raged at its worst level in decades over recent weeks.

''It is clear right now that we are on the same side -- Israel, the moderates in the Palestinians Authority, the moderate Arab state leaders -- and it is important that we use this opportunity to find out what is the best way to use this understanding,'' she told reporters.

With all eyes on talks between rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas as they struggle to break a deadlock on negotiations for a unity government, Israel has kept its counsel in recent months about prospects for reviving the peace talks.

Defence Minister Amir Peretz said today the government would seek to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

''We have every interest to try and strengthen the moderate forces. The coming weeks are critical,'' he told reporters ahead of a meeting with Beckett.

Reuters