Brazil's Lula calls for Israel settlement freeze

Lula met with Abbas in the northeastern city of Salvador for two hours, discussing the long-stalled Middle East peace process.

Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian territory must stop immediately, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Friday after meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.

- The expansion of West Bank settlements must be frozen. The borders of the future Palestinian state should be preserved, and freedom of movement needs to be guaranteed in the occupied territories - said Lula.

Abbas called on Lula, who met last week with Israeli President Shimon Peres also discussing the thorny issue of settlements, to play a greater role in international efforts to reach an agreement on Middle East peace.

- We appreciate the efforts of Brazil - Abbas told reporters.

- With respect to you, President Lula, we would like you to have a role, and you're ready for it - he said, adding that "the world can benefit from" Brazil's influence in the region.

Lula met with Abbas in the northeastern city of Salvador for two hours, discussing the long-stalled Middle East peace process and a way forward for the Palestinian territories.

- The peace process will benefit from the contribution of other countries other than those traditionally involved - in negotiation efforts, Lula said.

In recent weeks, Brazil has hinted at ambitions to play a role in Middle East affairs as the country seeks to boost its international profile to match its growing economic heft.

After Peres and Abbas, Lula is expected to meet Monday with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as part of a flurry of talks with Middle East leaders. Abbas is to head to Argentina on Sunday to meet with President Cristina Kirchner.

On Thursday, Brazil's foreign ministry expressed "deep concern" over Israel's announcement that it would build hundreds of new homes in an east Jerusalem settlement.

The Jewish state said it would erect 900 new homes at the Gilo settlement in east Jerusalem, which Israel invaded and occupied during the Six Day War of 1967 and subsequently annexed in a move not recognized by the international community.

Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state.