(Haaretz).U.S. envoy George Mitchell was unable to bridge the gaps yesterday between Washington, Israel and the Palestinian Authority in a way that would allow a three-party summit to be held at the United Nations General Assembly next week.
Mitchell asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show flexibility on the issue of freezing settlements, in order to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the meeting with Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama. Last night the forum of senior ministers in Netanyahu's inner circle met to discuss whether they believe Israel has additional room to maneuver within the administration's red lines.
Before meeting with Netanyahu yesterday, Mitchell said he hoped he would be able to reach an agreement with the prime minister that would allow the tripartite summit to take place. After yesterday's meeting the Prime Minister's Office issued a laconic statement that the meeting had been "good." An official later said that the two sides are continuing efforts to narrow the differences between them.
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Following yesterday's fruitless talks, Netanyahu is scheduled this morning to meet with Mitchell again, after the envoy extended his stay in Israel by an additional day. Today Mitchell and Netanyahu will try to reach a compromise on a settlement freeze that would allow the renewal of diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
One of the outstanding issues between Washington and Jerusalem is the length of the proposed freeze - the U.S. is demanding that settlement construction be suspended for a year, while Israel is offering to do so for only six months. The timetable for talks is also under dispute, as Washington is seeking to reach an Israeli-Palestinian agreement within two years, a target the Netanyahu administration has rejected.
In today's meeting, Mitchell is expected to update Netanyahu on his meeting yesterday with Abbas, in which he dined with the Palestinian leader to break the day's Ramadan fast.
Mitchell asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show flexibility on the issue of freezing settlements, in order to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the meeting with Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama. Last night the forum of senior ministers in Netanyahu's inner circle met to discuss whether they believe Israel has additional room to maneuver within the administration's red lines.
Before meeting with Netanyahu yesterday, Mitchell said he hoped he would be able to reach an agreement with the prime minister that would allow the tripartite summit to take place. After yesterday's meeting the Prime Minister's Office issued a laconic statement that the meeting had been "good." An official later said that the two sides are continuing efforts to narrow the differences between them.
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Following yesterday's fruitless talks, Netanyahu is scheduled this morning to meet with Mitchell again, after the envoy extended his stay in Israel by an additional day. Today Mitchell and Netanyahu will try to reach a compromise on a settlement freeze that would allow the renewal of diplomatic negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
One of the outstanding issues between Washington and Jerusalem is the length of the proposed freeze - the U.S. is demanding that settlement construction be suspended for a year, while Israel is offering to do so for only six months. The timetable for talks is also under dispute, as Washington is seeking to reach an Israeli-Palestinian agreement within two years, a target the Netanyahu administration has rejected.
In today's meeting, Mitchell is expected to update Netanyahu on his meeting yesterday with Abbas, in which he dined with the Palestinian leader to break the day's Ramadan fast.
