US Mideast Envoy: Two States Only Solution
By VOA News
17 April 2009
The U.S. envoy to the Middle East says a "two-state solution is the only solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, contrasting Washington's stance with that of the new Israeli government.
George Mitchell spoke Friday after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials in the West Bank.
The envoy met Thursday with Israel's new nationalist leadership, who have expressed concerns about the idea of Palestinian statehood. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel does not want to rule the Palestinians. But he warned that the political process must not allow the militant group Hamas, which runs Gaza in defiance of the Palestinian Authority, to expand its power.
Two top Hamas leaders appeared at public events Friday for the first time since Israel launched an offensive in Gaza in December. Ismail Haniya and Mahmoud al-Zahar gave sermons at separate mosques in the Palestinian territory.
Also Friday, Israeli security forces say Jewish settlers shot and killed a Palestinian man after he attacked a West Bank settlement.
Israeli officials say the man had infiltrated the Jewish community of Beit Hagai Friday and tried to stab several residents with a knife.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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