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| US envoy to meet Israeli leaders | US envoy to meet Israeli leaders |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama's envoy to the Middle East is in Israel for his first talks with the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. | US President Barack Obama's envoy to the Middle East is in Israel for his first talks with the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| The envoy, George Mitchell, has said the creation of a Palestinian state is the only way to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | The envoy, George Mitchell, has said the creation of a Palestinian state is the only way to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| Mr Netanyahu, of the right-wing Likud party, has not endorsed the creation of an independent Palestinian state. | Mr Netanyahu, of the right-wing Likud party, has not endorsed the creation of an independent Palestinian state. |
| Mr Mitchell is also to meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. | Mr Mitchell is also to meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank. |
| He arrived in Israel to a changed political landscape, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem. | He arrived in Israel to a changed political landscape, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem. |
| Senior Israeli and Palestinian figures doubt each others' ability or will to come to a full peace deal, our correspondent adds. | Senior Israeli and Palestinian figures doubt each others' ability or will to come to a full peace deal, our correspondent adds. |
| 'Economic peace' | 'Economic peace' |
| Mr Mitchell is to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu, who leads a right-leaning coalition combining the centre-right, centre-left and far-right parties. | Mr Mitchell is to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu, who leads a right-leaning coalition combining the centre-right, centre-left and far-right parties. |
| Mr Netanyahu has said the economy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank should be improved before progress on creating a Palestinian state is attempted. | Mr Netanyahu has said the economy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank should be improved before progress on creating a Palestinian state is attempted. |
| Mr Netanyahu offered 'economic peace' to Palestinians, not statehood | Mr Netanyahu offered 'economic peace' to Palestinians, not statehood |
| He has said he intends to resume talks and co-operation to promote "economic peace". | He has said he intends to resume talks and co-operation to promote "economic peace". |
| Israel committed itself in 2003 to the establishment of a Palestinian state under the "roadmap" peace plan. | Israel committed itself in 2003 to the establishment of a Palestinian state under the "roadmap" peace plan. |
| Mr Mitchell will also meet the new Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who has rejected the previous Israeli government's pledge in 2007 to work towards a Palestinian state under then-US President George W Bush. | |
| Mr Lieberman has also said the resulting peace negotiations have reached a "dead end". | |
| After meeting Israeli leaders on Thursday, Mr Mitchell will hold talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah on Friday. | After meeting Israeli leaders on Thursday, Mr Mitchell will hold talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah on Friday. |
| Earlier this week Mr Mitchell described the two-state solution as "the best and only way to resolve this conflict". | Earlier this week Mr Mitchell described the two-state solution as "the best and only way to resolve this conflict". |
| A fully independent Palestinian state is a fundamental demand of the Palestinians. | A fully independent Palestinian state is a fundamental demand of the Palestinians. |
| On Saturday, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reiterated his administration's position that that for peace talks to resume, Israel must declare its support for a two-state solution. | On Saturday, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat reiterated his administration's position that that for peace talks to resume, Israel must declare its support for a two-state solution. |