Tony Blair: 'Time for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations'

23 September 2011 Last updated at 18:07 ET Help

The Quartet of Middle East mediators - including Tony Blair - have released a statement urging Israelis and Palestinians to meet within one month to agree an agenda for talks.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas submitted his bid to the UN for recognition of a Palestinian state on Friday. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it could only be achieved through talks with Israel - not through UN resolutions.

Mr Blair admitted that gaps between the two sides' positions still exist but that the "basic elements" were "pretty much clear and agreed".

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