Netanyahu: Israel Has 'Mission of Peace"
VOA News
01 October 2010
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is making efforts to continue direct peace talks with the Palestinians.
Mr. Netanyahu commented Friday at the start of his second meeting this week with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell. The Israeli leader said his country has a "mission of peace."
Mitchell has been trying to persuade the Palestinians to remain in talks with Israel, although Israel's moratorium on West Bank settlement construction expired Sunday. Palestinians say settlement expansion is a key issue in determining if they will continue talks.
Israeli news reports say Mr. Netanyahu has rejected a U.S. offer of incentives designed to persuade him to extend the moratorium by 60 days.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who met with Mitchell Thursday, said he will decide whether to quit the talks after consulting senior Arab officials in a meeting next week.
U.S. officials say Mitchell will hold a second meeting with Mr. Abbas Friday.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also is in the region for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The EU is part of the Middle East Quartet, which also has the United States, Russia and the United Nations.
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