Top Israeli and Palestinian officials headed Sunday for the United States where they are expected to seek ways to break a deadlock over settlements threatening to sabotage peace talks.
Israeli President Shimon Peres left on a four-day visit coinciding with the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, before Defence Minister Ehud Barak set off for talks in Washington.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas was also to fly later to New York for the annual sitting, with efforts under way to arrange a meeting with US President Barack Obama, a senior Palestinian official told AFP. "There are also preparations for a meeting between (Israeli premier Benjamin) Netanyahu, Obama and Abbas," he said. "There is an expectation that they will meet."
Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said the Palestinian leader had high-level engagements scheduled, but he would not give details.
"Abbas will take part in the UN General Assembly meetings in New York and meet with several world leaders," Abu Rudeina told.