Mitchell: Resumption of talks a matter of weeks

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, urged Israel and the Palestinians Tuesday to renew peace negotiations. Mitchell refused to set a timetable, but said he hoped negotiations will be resumed within weeks.

Speaking to reporters at the State Department, the special envoy said he was hopeful that discussions he is now having with Israeli, Palestinian and other Arab leaders about resuming peace talks would be completed soon. After that, he said the Obama administration would announce its plans for new negotiations.

"To me, it's a matter of weeks, not many months," Mitchell said of the current discussions. He indicated that it could be before the end of July.

Mitchell also said he was encouraged by Netanyahu's recent speech at Bar-Ilan University, where the PM said a future Palestine would have to be demilitarized and that the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish.

'A common objective'

Despite the critical Arab response to Netanyahu's address, Mitchell said it marked an advance for the peace process, since Israel and the Palestinians both are now on record in support of a two-state solution.

"There now is a common objective, which was not the case until that speech was made," Mitchell said.

President Obama will be sending his Mideast peace envoy to Europe next week for talks with PM Netanyahu aimed at quickly restarting negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, two US officials said Tuesday.

Mitchell plans to meet Netanyahu in Paris in what will be their first face-to-face talks since the prime minister's major policy speech Sunday, the officials said.

The officials, both of whom are familiar with Mitchell's travel plans, spoke on condition of anonymity because the itinerary for the as-yet unannounced trip was not yet finalized.