Friday, October 30, 2009

US envoy Mitchell: Netanyahu wants peace

(Ma'annews).Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu desires peace in the region, according to US President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy, George Michell, who met with the Israeli leader on Friday in Jerusalem.

During their meeting, Mitchell insisted that both he and the Israeli prime minister shared the "common objective of a comprehensive peace in the region," according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. "As always I look forward to our discussions."

For his part, Netanyahu said he appreciated Mitchell and Obama's efforts, and that he was looking forward to talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday, after which he vowed to "try to re-launch the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians as soon as possible."

Statements by PM Netanyahu and Senator George Mitchell at the Start of their Meeting:

PM Netanyahu: Very good to see you again Senator Mitchell and I look forward to our discussions, and the discussions with Secretary of State, Clinton, to try to re-launch the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians as soon as possible. I also wanted to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the president's ongoing efforts to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear military capability. I think that the proposal that the president made in Geneva to have Iran withdraw its enriched uranium, or a good portion of it, outside Iran is a positive first step in that direction, and I support and appreciate the president's ongoing effort to unite the international community to address the challenge of Iran's attempts to become a nuclear military power.

Senator Mitchell: Mr. Prime Minister thank you very much for your comments. As always I look forward to our discussions to achieve our common objective of a comprehensive peace in the region and I appreciate again your courtesy in seeing me as you often have in the past.