US Envoy Meets Israeli PM in Jerusalem
By VOA News
28 July 2009
U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday to try to resolve a dispute over Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The two met in Mr. Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem to discuss steps in bringing about Middle East peace. Washington says Israel must freeze settlement construction to promote peace, but Israel says it must continue building to allow for the settlements' "natural growth."
Mitchell's meeting with Mr. Netanyahu is part of a new U.S. diplomatic push to end the Israeli-Arab conflict. His tour of the region has included talks with leaders from Syria, Egypt and the Palestinian territories.
U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones is leading a delegation to Israel and the West Bank as part of a separate diplomatic push for peace. The White House says he arrived in the region late Monday.
Over the last four days, Mitchell said he has asked Arab leaders in the region to take genuine steps toward normalizing ties with Israel.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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