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Special envoy George Mitchell
Photo: Reuters

PM's Office: US, Israel close to deal on freeze

Officials in Jerusalem are optimistic despite reports on US discontent with West Bank construction

The Prime Minister's Office was optimistic regarding negotiations with the US over a deal to freeze construction in settlements, despite reports that special envoy George Mitchell had postponed his trip to Israel due to Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to approve 500 new housing units in the West Bank.

 

"Israel and the US continue to grow closer, and the gaps in talks with Mitchell are closing," an official from the Prime Minister's Office told Ynet.

 

Mitchell is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Saturday evening for a two-day visit. On Sunday he is scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and on Monday he is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu.

 

The envoy was at first scheduled to arrive Thursday, prompting rumors that the delay was over the approval of building plans in the West Bank. But both sides claim talks are progressing and that renewal of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations would take place as planned, on the sidelines of the UN Security Council meeting on September 23.

 

Meanwhile, a number of ministers have expressed their disapproval of the plan to freeze construction according to US demands. Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said Sunday evening that it was "not right to hold a debate over the freeze just in order to meet with Abbas".

 

"If we are already speaking of a Palestinian state and a freeze, what will we talk about in negotiations?" Shalom asked during a conference he held in Tel Aviv.

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.07.09, 08:13
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