Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 21, 2009 Cheshvan 3, 5770 | | Israel Time: 10:24 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 11:47 08/10/2009
U.S. official: Obama impatient with delay in Mideast peace talks
By Barak Ravid and Avi Issacharoff
Tags: Goldstone Gaza Report 

The U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, arrived in Israel yesterday ahead of a round of talks aimed at restarting negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

A senior U.S. official told Israeli reporters that Mitchell's visit was not likely to conclude with an announcement of a renewal of talks, and that further meetings would be necessary. Israeli sources, however, told Haaretz that an announcement on renewing negotiations was "within reach."

The main American message is that reopening negotiations on all core issues would greatly reduce tensions and prevent incidents such as the recent Temple Mount disturbances. "The events on the Temple Mount and the discussions on the Goldstone report have demonstrated how urgent it is to go back to negotiations and resolve the core issues of the conflict," the U.S. official said.
Advertisement
Most of Mitchell's meetings will concentrate on attempts to bridge the gaps between Israel and the PA on conditions for the negotiations, including the timetable. The sides are still divided on all issues.

Mitchell will meet today with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Tomorrow he will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and over the weekend he will travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The U.S. official said President Barack Obama had instructed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mitchell to report to him by mid-October on progress. "We do not foresee a breakthrough on this visit, but we have a sense of urgency and we are determined to make progress," the official said. "The president is impatient with the current situation and expects the sides to move forward."

Sources in Jerusalem said a temporary freeze of construction in settlements was effectively off the agenda, and the Americans had dropped this demand. The U.S. official, however, said Mitchell would continue discussing the administration's demand for a "moratorium" on settlement construction. "It's not off the table," he said. "Our position on settlements has not changed."

Sources said yesterday that Abbas, whose standing among Palestinians has suffered dramatically in recent weeks, is expected to refuse the American request for an immediate return to negotiations without preconditions. Abbas has been harshly criticized for requesting a postponement of the UN discussion on the Goldstone report at the request of the United States.

Hamas staged a rally in Gaza yesterday attended by families bereaved during Operation Cast Lead. The crowd was invited to throw shoes at a large poster of Abbas.

Meanwhile, chairman of the PLO's Executive Committee, Yasser Abed Rabbo, told Palestinian radio yesterday that the PA was mistaken in its approach to the report. "We have the courage to admit our mistake, and this mistake can be amended," Abed Rabbo said.

Related articles:
  • Israel, PA trade blame over frozen funds to disabled Gazans
  • Sarkozy urges Assad to pressure Hamas on Shalit exchange deal
  • Cornerstone laid for housing in E. Jerusalem, under tight security
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Time for Mideast peace
    At Presidential Conference, Netanyahu urges Abbas to be 'brave' and look to end conflict.
    Israel's media ban
    Israel falls to No. 93 on international ranking of press freedom, due to Gaza war.
      1.   abbas in italy afraid to come home 03:59  |  so 08/10/09
      2.   Time for Obama to twist some arms 04:08  |  Ghassan 08/10/09
      3.   Discussions about Discussions? 04:33  |  John 08/10/09
      4.   "Boy King` must be taught patience by his.... 05:07  |  Josiah J. Ben David 08/10/09
      5.   Obama: this not YOUR country. Stick to your own business. 05:09  |  No Nobel attempts @I 08/10/09
      6.   Impatient or Inexperienced? 05:51  |  MichaelF 08/10/09
      7.   #5 - No Nobel 06:16  |  MichaelF 08/10/09
      8.   MINISTER OF ISRAELI OCCUPATION 07:02  |  LeMouel 08/10/09
      9.   delay 07:04  |  colin 08/10/09
      10.   Don`t speak too soon about Obama... 07:34  |  yezmar 08/10/09
      11.   Obama Overdoing It 07:48  |  Ivri 08/10/09
      12.   Welcome to the Middle East Brother! 08:00  |  B`galil 08/10/09
      13.   Josiah J. Ben David. "Young Turks." 08:04  |  Maureen Ann 08/10/09
      14.   You`re impatient, Obama? Then DO something, you pathetic wimp. 08:44  |  Michael 08/10/09
      15.   Hussein Obama(Amateur-in-chief) is losing the war in Afganistan 09:09  |  Margaret 08/10/09
      16.   to #7: it was in his interest to block it! nothing more! 09:11  |  Kapish? 08/10/09
      17.   Obama impatient because the Zionists are playing with him 09:25  |  Arie Heide 08/10/09
      18.   Brace yourself for War Israel 04:41  |  Sunday 21/10/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    02:28 Deputy PM to Haaretz: Israel needs internal probe of Gaza war
    10:06 Palestinian official ready for talks with U.S., but not Israel
    09:53 Eyeing Iran, Israel tests missile defenses with U.S.
    00:06 Obama surprises Peres gala event with special message
    04:55 Senior Shin Bet official: Hamas completely lost Gaza war
    05:12 How the Muslim world deals with the rise of Islamism
    08:20 State won't prosecute officers filmed beating Palestinians
    23:16 TV ROUND-UP: U.S. arrests would-be Israel spy, Israel and U.S. to hold drill
    10:19 As Israeli human trafficking rises, immigration police remains ineffective
    02:51 Netanyahu to Abbas: The time has come for peace
    07:14 Pizza cooked by a child molester - a snapshot of Madoff's prison life
    06:46 Three Israelis listed among top 100 emerging artists
    05:59 Ex-U.S. official lauds Lieberman for 'narrowing gap' with developing world
    02:52 Ex-IDF chief's widow rejects naming East Jerusalem street after him
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved