Standstill? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
special US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell were unable to reach an agreement as to the settlement freeze,
a source in the Prime Minister's Office said Friday.
At this time, no date for a meeting between Netanyahu, Mitchell and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
has been set, either.
| Pessimism |
|
| Palestinians: Zero chances for Abbas-Netanyahu meeting / Ali Waked |
|
Following meeting between Abbas-Mitchell meeting, Ramallah sources say without clear Israeli declaration on halt to settlement construction, coveted three-way summit between US, Israeli and Palestinian leaders will not take place |
| Full story |
|
|
|
The American emissary met with Netanyahu four time over the past few days, and held two meetings with Abbas – apparently to no avail.
Mitchell's meetings with both officials reportedly focused on settlement freeze – the main hurdle the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations face at this time and the reason no three-way summit has been scheduled.
Palestinians sources said the current Israeli stance is not sufficient to lead to the summit the Americans are so eager to organize during the UN's meeting next week.
The Palestinians further noted that without a clear Israeli position, peace talks will not be restarted, and that such a position has yet to be presented.
Mitchell will leave Israel for
the US later Friday. Netanyahu will be leaving for New York on Wednesday, ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting.
RSS
