Earlier Tuesday, Mitchell told President Shimon Peres his goal was to create conditions for "prompt resumption and early conclusion" of talks leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state "side by side in peace and security with the Jewish state of Israel".
"Let me be clear. These are not disagreements among adversaries. The United States and Israel are and will remain close allies and friends," Mitchell said. He later voiced the same sentim
Peres told Mitchell during their early afternoon talks that he believed that regional leaders had reached an historic moment in time, adding that neither sides would forgive themselves if they missed this chance for peace.
"I know that we must move along a corridor strewn with problems but there is also a great opportunity for peace," he said. "The sides must forgo the secondary problems and begin intensive negotiations for peace, in the framework of which I believe it will be possible to resolve most problems."
The president also called on the U.S. to continue negotiating over West Bank settlement construction, rather than focusing on it as a single contentious issue.
"There is agreement in Israel regarding the evacuation of illegal outposts and not to build new settlements," he said. "However, the issue of natural growth in the settlement blocs must continue to be discussed intensively in order to reach agreement."
"In my experience, focusing on a single issue ill serves the wider diplomatic process which is supposed to set the agenda for Israel and its neighbors," he added.
