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April 23, 2010

US Envoy Meets Israeli, Palestinian Leaders
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Middle East envoy George Mitchell has returned to Israel and the
Occupied Territories for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
It’s Mitchell’s first visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu since Netanyahu renewed his refusal to halt East Jerusalem
settlement construction last week. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat
said Israel’s ongoing settlement expansion is undermining peace talks.

Saeb Erekat: “President Abbas will be receiving Senator Mitchell
tomorrow night, and we are doing every possible effort in order to give
Senator—President Obama and Senator Mitchell the chance to commence and
begin the proximity talks. As Arabs, as Palestinians, we have said yes
to these proximity talks last month. The Netanyahu government responded
with 1,600 ’no’s by introducing 1,600 housing units in the settlement of
Ramat Shlomo in East Jerusalem.”



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