TEL AVIV : US Defense secretary, Panetta, while his first trip to Israel, has pressed the Obama administration's view that the Israel and Palestine must restart the long-stalled peace talks, during a news conference with Barak, Panetta said it's time for bold action by both sides to move toward a negotiated two-state solution.
The visit comes amid new international pressure to reach a peace deal by the end of next year, fueled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' move two weeks ago asking the U.N. Security Council to recognize an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip.
