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World Jewish News
Mitchell begins talks with Israeli officials, amid rising tensions
09.06.2009
with Israeli officials on Tuesday, amid mounting tensions in the relations between the two countries over Washington's demand that Israel freeze all settlement construction.
George Mitchell met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv in the morning and was scheduled to meet later with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Mitchell was then to travel to the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Netanyahu and Obama spoke on the telephone Monday night, in a conversation which the Prime Minister's Bureau described as positive.
Netanyahu updated Obama on his plan to make an important political speech at Bar-Ilan University on Sunday, where he will outline his program for peace and security.
Obama reportedly said that he is eager to hear the speech and the two leaders agreed to continue their telephone exchanges.
Mitchell reportedly told former MK Yossi Beilin that the U.S. would like to commence negotiations on the core issues of the final status agreement as soon as possible.
The envoy is also expected to raise the possibility of resuming negotiations on the Syrian track. With this in mind, Fred Hoff, Mitchell's chief of staff and a Syria expert, is expected to arrive in Israel, too. Mitchell will continue on to Damascus and Beirut later this week.
Another matter expected to top the agenda during the meetings is the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu and Barak will brief Mitchell about Wednesday's scheduled special cabinet meeting on the subject, expected to result in a decision to lift restrictions on importing foodstuffs and other goods into the Strip. The cabinet is also expected to lift the ban on exports.
Meanwhile, Abbas met with Beilin at the Muqata'a government compound in Ramallah Monday, where the Palestinian leader expressed his satisfaction with the results of his White House meeting with President Obama, two weeks ago. "Washington has changed its attitude toward the Palestinians completely," Abbas told Beilin.
During their conversation, Abbas said the PA intends to meet the U.S. demand to cease incitement against Israel by official Palestinian organs. "There are things that we need to correct in our official media and elsewhere," Abbas said. "I am in favor of dealing with these issues. But at the same time, Israel needs to address similar matters, too."
Abbas talked extensively about the PA's activities against Hamas in the West Bank and noted the recent clashes in Qalqilyah, during which two militants and three PA police officers were killed. "We are doing a great deal to preserve security," Abbas said.
Abbas also emphasized his wish to resume negotiations on a final status agreement as soon as possible.
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Источник: Haaretz
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