Abbas urges further efforts for Mideast peace

（单词翻译）

RAMALLAH, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Tuesday for intensifying¹ efforts to make peace in the Middle East.
"The pace of peacemaking in the region must be accelerated（加速）," Abbas told a press conference（记者招待会） in Ramallah following a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Abbas said the Palestinians would spare no efforts to achieve peace. "We believe in peace and believe that peace should be made as soon as possible," he said.
He also reiterated³ his readiness to resume direct negotiations⁴ if Israel positively⁵ responded to the disputed questions of security and borders.
The United States succeeded in May to mediate⁶ indirect proximity⁷ talks between the Palestinians and Israel. However, the talks are still futile⁸ so far.
Direct peace talks halted in December 2008 after Israel launched a wide-scale offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to stop "firing rockets and topple Hamas reign²" in the enclave.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)