U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says Washington will no longer be a passive participant in the Middle East peace talks but will instead push the two sides to deal with core issues without delay. In a speech delivered yesterday at a Middle East policy seminar in Washington, Clinton urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resolve the various issues that has led to an impasse in negotiations over a two-state solution. The chief U.S. diplomat said it was important for both sides to compromise in order to reach an agreement. Hours before her speech, Clinton met separately with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. Clinton said U.S. special envoy George Mitchell will head back to the region next week. She said the negotiations will concentrate on divisive issues such as borders and security, settlements, water, refugees and Jerusalem – which Israel says is its capital but which the Palestinians hope will serve as the capital of their future state.