This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8090761.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| US urges quick return to Mid-East talks | US urges quick return to Mid-East talks |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| US Middle East envoy George Mitchell has urged a swift return to peace talks on his first day of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. | US Middle East envoy George Mitchell has urged a swift return to peace talks on his first day of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. |
| "We all share an obligation to create the conditions for the prompt resumption and early conclusion of negotiations," he said in Jerusalem. | "We all share an obligation to create the conditions for the prompt resumption and early conclusion of negotiations," he said in Jerusalem. |
| US relations with Israel are said to be tense since President Barack Obama's speech to Muslims in Cairo last week. | US relations with Israel are said to be tense since President Barack Obama's speech to Muslims in Cairo last week. |
| Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to back a two-state solution. | Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to back a two-state solution. |
| These are not disagreements among adversaries George Mitchell US envoy to Middle East | These are not disagreements among adversaries George Mitchell US envoy to Middle East |
| Due to give a major address on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu spoke to Mr Obama by telephone on Monday, in a conversation described by his office as positive. | Due to give a major address on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu spoke to Mr Obama by telephone on Monday, in a conversation described by his office as positive. |
| He began talks with Mr Mitchell on Tuesday after the US envoy had meetings with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. | He began talks with Mr Mitchell on Tuesday after the US envoy had meetings with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. |
| President Obama seems to hope he can achieve a historic Middle East settlement within his first term and this ambitious goal puts him on a collision course with Mr Netanyahu's government, BBC Middle East correspondent Paul Wood reports from Jerusalem. | President Obama seems to hope he can achieve a historic Middle East settlement within his first term and this ambitious goal puts him on a collision course with Mr Netanyahu's government, BBC Middle East correspondent Paul Wood reports from Jerusalem. |
| Meetings are also planned with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday, the second and last day of his visit. | Meetings are also planned with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Wednesday, the second and last day of his visit. |
| 'Close allies and friends' | 'Close allies and friends' |
| Meeting Mr Peres, the US envoy stressed the bond between America and Israel. | Meeting Mr Peres, the US envoy stressed the bond between America and Israel. |
| The US Middle East envoy meets Israel's foreign minister | |
| "Let me be clear," he said. "These are not disagreements among adversaries. The United States and Israel are and will remain close allies and friends." | "Let me be clear," he said. "These are not disagreements among adversaries. The United States and Israel are and will remain close allies and friends." |
| But he also reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state "side by side in peace and security with the Jewish state of Israel". | But he also reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state "side by side in peace and security with the Jewish state of Israel". |
| Mr Peres, whose post is largely ceremonial, said it was time "to take the bull by the horns" and pursue "a state for us and state for the Palestinians". | Mr Peres, whose post is largely ceremonial, said it was time "to take the bull by the horns" and pursue "a state for us and state for the Palestinians". |
| Few details of Mr Mitchell's talks with Mr Barak were given but the Israeli defence minister's office said they had discussed the question of settlement construction. | Few details of Mr Mitchell's talks with Mr Barak were given but the Israeli defence minister's office said they had discussed the question of settlement construction. |
| Speaking before his meeting with the US envoy, Foreign Minister Lieberman told a parliamentary committee that he welcomed US efforts to promote peace. | Speaking before his meeting with the US envoy, Foreign Minister Lieberman told a parliamentary committee that he welcomed US efforts to promote peace. |
| "We definitely give our blessing to the American approach as a regional one, and to the attempt to reach an agreement not only with the Palestinians, but to reach a regional balance where everyone understands that there is a need to co-operate, [at least] with the constructive powers in the area," he said. | "We definitely give our blessing to the American approach as a regional one, and to the attempt to reach an agreement not only with the Palestinians, but to reach a regional balance where everyone understands that there is a need to co-operate, [at least] with the constructive powers in the area," he said. |
| He also warned once again of the danger of Iran developing nuclear weapons: "If - God forbid - Iran obtains a nuclear military capability, the entire region, with all that this entails, will enter into a crazy nuclear arms race, with all the repercussions that need not be said." | He also warned once again of the danger of Iran developing nuclear weapons: "If - God forbid - Iran obtains a nuclear military capability, the entire region, with all that this entails, will enter into a crazy nuclear arms race, with all the repercussions that need not be said." |
| Netanyahu's vision | Netanyahu's vision |
| Mr Netanyahu has yet to publicly commit himself to a two-state solution. | Mr Netanyahu has yet to publicly commit himself to a two-state solution. |
| Some see this as a negotiating ploy, but Mr Netanyahu speaks privately of allowing Palestinians self-rule while giving them something less than full statehood, our correspondent says. | Some see this as a negotiating ploy, but Mr Netanyahu speaks privately of allowing Palestinians self-rule while giving them something less than full statehood, our correspondent says. |
| Under Mr Netanyahu's vision of an economic peace, for instance, the Palestinians would not control either their borders or their airspace. | Under Mr Netanyahu's vision of an economic peace, for instance, the Palestinians would not control either their borders or their airspace. |
| The immediate clash, however, will come over the issue of Jewish settlements built on land occupied by Israel in the 1967 war, our correspondent says. | The immediate clash, however, will come over the issue of Jewish settlements built on land occupied by Israel in the 1967 war, our correspondent says. |
| Mr Obama has said more clearly than any US president for a long time that settlement building must stop, while Mr Netanyahu is sticking to the established Israeli formula that there should be "natural growth" in existing settlements. | Mr Obama has said more clearly than any US president for a long time that settlement building must stop, while Mr Netanyahu is sticking to the established Israeli formula that there should be "natural growth" in existing settlements. |
| The US remains committed to maintaining Israel's security - just not to defending its gains since 1967, our correspondent says. | The US remains committed to maintaining Israel's security - just not to defending its gains since 1967, our correspondent says. |