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US pushes for Middle East talks 'No agreement' in Mid-East talks
(about 2 hours later)
US envoy George Mitchell is meeting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas as part of an ongoing round of shuttle diplomacy in the region. US envoy George Mitchell's latest round of shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East has ended without agreement, Palestinian officials said.
Earlier he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time on his extended trip. Mr Mitchell had met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in a fresh attempt at getting a deal on Jewish settlement activity.
Mr Mitchell is engaged in fresh attempts to get a deal on Jewish settlement activity. He also went to the West Bank to speak with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
He is hoping for an agreement before all sides meet at the UN General Assembly in New York next week. Mr Mitchell was hoping for a consensus before all sides attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
Israeli media reports say that Mr Mitchell will hold further talks with Mr Netanyahu before the Jewish New Year holiday begins on Friday evening. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said: "There is no agreement yet with the Israeli side and no middle ground solution."
On Thursday, Mr Netanyahu urged world leaders to reject a UN report on the war in Gaza earlier this year.
The report concluded that Israel deliberately used "disproportionate force" in its three-week operation in Gaza in December and January.
It said both the Israeli army and Palestinian militants committed war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity.
'Construction will continue'
Mr Mitchell has prolonged his trip to the Middle East for several days as he works for a deal on freezing Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad demands settlement freezePalestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad demands settlement freeze
An Israeli official was reported to have suggested that there may be a hiatus is settlement building in the West Bank, not including East Jerusalem, a little longer than previously offered.
"Israel will agree to extend the freeze beyond six months - possibly nine months, but less than a year," the official said according to the Reuters news agency.
'Construction will continue'
Mr Mitchell had prolonged his trip to the Middle East for several days as he pushed for a deal on freezing Israeli settlement activity in the occupied West Bank.
The US is seeking a moratorium on settlement building that would be acceptable to the Palestinian side.The US is seeking a moratorium on settlement building that would be acceptable to the Palestinian side.
Palestinians queue at checkpoint to Jerusalem
Mr Abbas and the US administration have been demanding a complete freeze on Israeli construction activity.Mr Abbas and the US administration have been demanding a complete freeze on Israeli construction activity.
Mr Netanyahu has offered a temporary freeze for several months, but not in East Jerusalem or in cases where homes have already been approved. Mr Netanyahu had previously offered a temporary freeze for several months, but not in East Jerusalem or in cases where homes have already been approved.
On Thursday he gave no indication there would be a freeze in the West Bank.
"There is a slowdown in settlement construction, but not a freeze," he said. "There are 2,400 units being built, and their construction will continue.""There is a slowdown in settlement construction, but not a freeze," he said. "There are 2,400 units being built, and their construction will continue."