AFP - The Palestinian Authority has arrested several Hamas members for organizing and carrying out two recent attacks on Israeli settlers, a senior official said on Tuesday.

AP - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he has asked the U.S. to settle a dispute with Israel over settlement expansion that is threatening to derail Mideast peace talks.

AFP - US President Barack Obama warned Tuesday that progress towards peace in the Middle East would not come easily, or quickly, despite the launch of direct Israeli-Palestinian talks.