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US Envoy Gets No Agreement on Middle East Talks

   VOA News 10 August 2010
   Palestinian  President  Mahmoud Abbas (r) speaks with US Mideast envoy
   George Mitchell during their meeting at Abbas' office in the Ramallah,
   10 Aug 2010

Photo: AP

   Palestinian  President  Mahmoud Abbas (r) speaks with US Mideast envoy
   George Mitchell during their meeting at Abbas' office in the Ramallah,
   10 Aug 2010

   U.S.  Middle  East envoy George Mitchell has failed to get Palestinian
   agreement to engage in direct talks with Israel.
   A State Department spokesman, P.J. Crowley, says Mitchell had "serious
   and  positive"  talks Tuesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
   in the West Bank town of Ramallah.  But he says Mitchell left without
   agreement, referring to "difficulties and obstacles" the two sides are
   facing.
   The    Obama    administration    has    been   pushing   for   direct
   Israeli-Palestinian talks to resume early next month.
   Mr.  Abbas  wants  agreement first on a framework, agenda and timeline
   for  the  negotiations.  The Palestinians also are demanding a freeze
   on Israeli settlement construction on land the Palestinians want for a
   future state.
   Israeli  Prime  Minister  Benjamin  Netanyahu says direct talks should
   begin immediately without conditions.
   On  Wednesday,  Mitchell  is  expected  to meet with Mr. Netanyahu and
   Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
   Direct talks between Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu's predecessor, former
   Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, broke off in December 2008.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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