US hopes to start Mideast talks soon
Envoy George Mitchell says Washington wants to see Israelis and Palestinians begin 'meaningful and productive' peace negotiations soon
US envoy George Mitchell said on Friday that the United States hoped Israelis and Palestinians would soon begin "meaningful and productive" peace negotiations.
"We believe we are making progress in these efforts and we hope very much to conclude this phase of the discussions and to be able to move into meaningful and productive negotiations in the near future," Mitchell told a news conference.
Mitchell was speaking after a meeting in Italy of the Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators which includes the United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia.
It was its first formal meeting since US President Barack Obama took office in January.
The Quartet was expected to urge Israel on Friday to freeze all settlement activity, including "natural growth", a European diplomat said.
The Group of Eight (G8) powers also called for a freeze in Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank on Friday and urged all parties to "re-enter direct negotiations on all standing issues consistent with the Road Map," according to a final draft statement.
