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US Middle East Envoy Launches Peace Talks

   VOA News 27 July 2010
   US Mideast envoy George Mitchell (file photo)

Photo: AP

   US Mideast envoy George Mitchell (file photo)

   U.S.  Middle  East Envoy George Mitchell has launched a fifth round of
   indirect peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.
   Mitchell launched his new peace mission after Israeli Foreign Minister
   Avigdor   Lieberman   said  there  is  no  chance  of  establishing  a
   Palestinian state by 2012.
   But  Mitchell  said  the  the  United States is determined to press on
   toward a two-state solution
   Israeli  Prime  Minister  Benjamin  Netanyahu has said he wants direct
   Israeli-Palestinian  talks to start as soon as possible.  Palestinian
   President Mahmoud Abbas has said he wants a complete freeze on Israeli
   settlement  construction  in  the  West Bank as a condition for direct
   talks.
   Last  year,  Mr.  Netanyahu  announced a 10-month freeze on settlement
   construction that is due to expire in September.
   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah
   II in Amman, 27 July 2010

AFP

   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah
   II in Amman, 27 July 2010

   The  Israelis  and Palestinians have been holding indirect talks, with
   Mitchell acting as the mediator.
   In  related  news,  Mr.  Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to Jordan
   Tuesday  to  meet  with King Abdullah and discuss ways to begin direct
   Israeli-Palestinian talks.
   The  prime  minister's  office  said  the meeting lasted two hours and
   focused  on  the  need  for effective negotiations on so-called "final
   status" issues to create a Palestinian state.

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

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