US Envoy Mitchell to travel to Mideast next week
Special US envoy to visit Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo, will hold first official meetings with PM Netanyahu, FM Lieberman; State Department says Mitchell will aim to 'advance goal of two-state solution, comprehensive peace in region'
The US State Department announced Monday that Mitchell will be traveling to Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, the Persian Gulf, and North Africa.
The visit will mark Mitchell's third trip to the Middle East as well as his first official meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. In past visits, Mitchell met Netanyahu when the latter served as opposition leader.
"Special Envoy Mitchell will travel to the Middle East beginning April 13 to advance the goal of the two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region," the State Department's announcement said. "Envoy Mitchell's aim for this trip is to discuss next steps in moving the parties toward a lasting peace that will benefit all the people of the region."
In the wake of recent remarks by senior Israeli politicians - headed by sources in Netanyahu's office and Minister Lieberman himself - stressing that Israel is not bound by the Annapolis process or a two-state solution, officials in Washington have reiterated America's commitment to the process on several occasions.
Speaking to the Turkish parliament earlier, President Barack Obama said that "the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security."
