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US, Palestinian Talks End with No Word of a Settlement Agreement

Luis Ramirez 30 September 2010

U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell has wrapped up a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, with no apparent agreement on the key issue of Israeli West Bank settlement construction.

After the meeting Thursday, Mitchell said negotiators were continuing efforts to find "common ground" between Israel and the Palestinians. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Mitchell will have a second meeting with Israeli leaders Thursday and then will meet again with Mr. Abbas on Friday.

Israel's freeze on settlement construction in the occupied West Bank expired Sunday. Palestinians say settlement expansion is a key issue in determining if they will remain in direct talks with Israel.

Israeli news organizations say U.S. President Barack Obama has offered Israel a list of favors if it agrees to extend the construction moratorium by two months. The news organizations cite a report from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which says the assurances include a U.S. promise to veto any U.N. Security Council initiative that relates to Arab-Israeli peace during a one-year negotiating period.

On Wednesday, Mitchell met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said his government is committed to trying to reach an agreement with Palestinians that would preserve Israel's security and other vital interests.

Mr. Abbas has said he will decide whether to quit the talks after consulting senior Arab officials next week. The Arab League meeting initially was scheduled for Monday, but officials say it now has been moved to Wednesday.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is in the Middle East, where she is holding talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials as well as with Mitchell. The EU is part of the Middle East Quartet, which also has the United States, Russia and the United Nations.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.