PM to meet Mitchell prior to US trip

Despite tensions between Washington and Jerusalem as well as the postponement of his visit to Israel, US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell is poised to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday after all.

The meeting is scheduled to take place shortly before Netanyahu leaves for the US for a series of meetings with American-Jewish leaders, sources at the Prime Minister's Office said.

Barring any last minute changes, Netanyahu will meet Mitchell for dinner on Sunday as well as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and board a flight to Washington later that night in order to attend the AIPAC convention.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak will accompany the prime minister on his trip to Washington, at the latter's request, and will also meet the US envoy prior to the flight.

Netanyahu convened the forum of seven top ministers on Wednesday in order to discuss the crisis with the US. One of the proposals raised was to revert back to the state of affairs maintained in east Jerusalem until March 2009.

According to the proposal, construction plans for Jewish neighborhoods beyond the Green Line will be approved, but the actual extent of construction will be reduced. Building in Arab neighborhoods will be completely suspended.