The United States Wednesday urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resume direct talks in 2013 and move toward peace.

“As we turn the calendar to 2013… now is the time for leaders on both sides to display real leadership, to focus on the work that’s necessary to return to direct negotiations,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

The US urged “both sides to clearly demonstrate that they are serious about achieving two states living side by side in peace and security,” she said, calling on both sides to halt any “counter-productive unilateral actions.”