US special Middle East envoy George Mitchell. Photo: AJN file

WASHINGTON — US special Middle East envoy George Mitchell has announced the start of proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mitchell will broker the indirect talks, which over the next few weeks will have him shuttling between the Palestinian territories and Israel.

“We’ve begun to discuss the structure and scope of these talks, and I will return to the region next week to continue our discussions,” Mitchell, who has been in the area since March 6, said in a statement released Monday afternoon (March 8).

“As we’ve said many times, we hope that these will lead to direct negotiations as soon as possible.”

The Palestinians have refused to engage in direct talks until Israel places a freeze on all settlement construction, including eastern Jerusalem. Israel has only partially frozen settlement expansion.

On March 8 Israel announced approval for the construction of 112 new apartments in a West Bank settlement, a move that angered Palestinians who had just agreed to the new round of indirect talks.

Mitchell addressed the concerns in his statement. Read the full story

US Special Envoy George Mitchell with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on January 21. Photo: Isranet

JERUSALEM — US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell met with Israeli President Shimon Peres during his latest visit to Israel.

Mitchell also met Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas separately last week.

At the meeting with Peres, Mitchell discussed how to advance the peace process between Israel and its neighbours.

Peres told Mitchell: “I believe your visit is timely. And in spite of all the declarations and the mood we have to move ahead with no alternative.”

Mitchell left Israel for Jordan on Sunday afternoon (January 24) and will also visit Egypt this week in an attempt to advance the peace process.

ISRANET AND JTA

United States president Barack Obama. Photo: AJN file

JERUSALEM — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the Obama administration to negotiate with Israel on his behalf.

Abbas has proposed that the United States negotiate the final borders of a Palestinian state, according to media reports citing an unnamed Abbas aide.

Such an arrangement could help Abbas save face, since he has declared that he will not return to the peace negotiating table until Israel stops all construction in West Bank settlements, including eastern Jerusalem.

The proposal comes as US Mid-East envoy George Mitchell was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday evening (January 20) in Israel in another bid to bring the sides to the negotiating table.

It is believed that Abbas made the proposal recently in meetings with Egyptian officials, who relayed the recommendation to US officials.

Mitchell will meet separately with Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu this week. Abbas is expected to discuss the idea with Mitchell.

JTA

RONI SOFER
JERUSALEM - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will arrive in Israel on Saturday night and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in order to further the political process with the Palestinians, Ynet learned on Tuesday.

US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell will also be arriving in the Jewish state on Friday to set the ground for Clinton’s visit.

Read the full story

YITZHAK BENHORIN

WASHINGTON – Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s envoys to US on the issue of the settlements, Attorney Yitzhak Molcho and Brig. Gen. Mike Herzog, met US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, on Wednesday.

The US State Department reported that it was a “good meeting,” and that Mitchell will visit the region in the second half of next week.
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JERUSALEM  — US envoy George Mitchell has told Israeli leaders that their countries “are and will remain close allies and friends”. Mitchell met on Tuesday with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Defence Minister Ehud Barak. He was scheduled to meet later in the day with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

“The United States’ commitment to the security of Israel remains unshakeable,” Mitchell told Peres. ”The United States under President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton remains fully committed to working with our friends, our allies and our partners, and to achieve that comprehensive peace.” Read the full story