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US envoy to hold talks with Abbas US envoy to hold talks with Abbas
(about 1 hour later)
US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a day after his first meetings with Israel's new government.US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a day after his first meetings with Israel's new government.
On Thursday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only discuss a Palestinian state if Palestinians recognised Israel as a Jewish state.On Thursday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only discuss a Palestinian state if Palestinians recognised Israel as a Jewish state.
A spokesman for Mr Abbas told AFP the demand was an "obstacle" to peace. Mr Abbas's office warned Israel's new policy could have "devastating repercussions for the whole region".
Mr Netanyahu, of the right-wing Likud party, has not previously endorsed the creation of a Palestinian state. Mr Netanyahu has stopped short of backing Palestinian statehood.
Mr Mitchell is also expected to meet Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad during his visit to the West Bank town of Ramallah on Friday. During his meetings with Israeli leaders on Thursday, Mr Mitchell reiterated the US government's commitment to a two-state solution, which the previous government pursued in talks with the PA.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat has said that for peace talks to resume, Israel must declare its support for a two-state solution. But far-right Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the long-standing approach to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process had brought "neither results nor solutions" and new ideas were needed.
Mr Netanyahu has offered "economic peace", not statehood, to Palestinians And senior official in Mr Netanyahu's office quoted the new prime minister as telling Mr Mitchell: "Israel expects the Palestinians to first recognise Israel as a Jewish state before talking about two states for two peoples."
Review call
Under previous agreements, the Palestinians have recognised the right of the state of Israel to exist.
But correspondents say recognising it as a Jewish state would be tantamount to abandoning one of the Palestinians' key demands in final-status talks, the "right to return" of Palestinians refugees.
A spokesman for Mr Abbas accused to new government of putting "new obstacles" in the way of a two-state solution.
"This is seen as a challenge to international efforts, especially by the US. It needs the international community to carefully review Israeli policy for fear of devastating repercussions on the whole region," he said.
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The BBC's Aleem Maqbool describes the Israeli settlements
The Palestinian Authority has also called repeatedly for international pressure on Israel to keep its commitment to freezing building in settlements in the West Bank.The Palestinian Authority has also called repeatedly for international pressure on Israel to keep its commitment to freezing building in settlements in the West Bank.
Human rights groups say construction activity has continued since US President Barack Obama came into office.
The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
In his talks with the Israeli president and foreign minister, Mr Mitchell, reiterated US support for a Palestinian state alongside Israel Mr Mitchell has given little comment on his meetings with leaders in the region, although he also assured Israeli President Shimon Peres of Washington's "absolute and strong commitment" to Israel's security.
But Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the diplomatic process was at a "dead end" and a new approach was needed.
A senior official in Mr Netanyahu's office quoted the new prime minister as telling Mr Mitchell: "Israel expects the Palestinians to first recognise Israel as a Jewish state before talking about two states for two peoples."
Correspondents say this would be tantamount to the Palestinians abandoning the "right to return" of Palestinian refugees, and would be a very difficult demand for them to accept ahead of final-status talks.
Mr Mitchell's first meeting on Thursday was with President Shimon Peres.
He assured the president of Washington's "absolute and strong commitment" to Israel's security.
Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman (left) said a new approach to peace is needed
Mr Peres told him that "no door to peace" had been closed and called 2009 a "decisive year in the Middle East".
However his upbeat tone appeared to contrast with the message from Foreign Minister 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 told Mr Mitchell that "the traditional approach has so far brought neither results nor solutions," the ministry said in a statement.
"The Israeli government will have to formulate new ideas and a new approach," Mr Lieberman added.
The visit is Mr Mitchell's first since Mr Netanyahu formed his right-leaning coalition, which brings together centre-right, centre-left and far-right parties.The visit is Mr Mitchell's first since Mr Netanyahu formed his right-leaning coalition, which brings together centre-right, centre-left and far-right parties.
President Obama's MidEast envoy (l) flew in to Israel on Wednesday
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.
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".
Mr Lieberman has said his government remains committed to the 2003 "road map" peace plan, which aims to create a Palestinian state through a phased process.Mr Lieberman has said his government remains committed to the 2003 "road map" peace plan, which aims to create a Palestinian state through a phased process.
But he has also rejected the previous Israeli government's pledge to work towards Palestinian statehood a the 2007 peace conference at Annapolis in the US.But he has also rejected the previous Israeli government's pledge to work towards Palestinian statehood a the 2007 peace conference at Annapolis in the US.