JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The Middle East envoy of the United States, George Mitchell, said Friday the Israelis and Palestinians that the U.S. president, Barack Obama, wants a comprehensive peace agreement into reality “soon, not in a vague future and distant “.
In a busy first day of meetings, amid tensions between Israel and its closest ally, Washington”s envoy to both parties stressed Obama”s determination to find a solution to the conflict in the Middle East.
pressing the Israelis and Palestinians to end their 16-month suspension of formal negotiations, Obama wants conversations to be made of “proximity” in weeks .
U.S. President pointed out that peace is a vital strategic interest of the United States, while combating Islamic militancy.
Mitchell assured the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that Obama is firmly committed to Israel”s security and also wants a peace agreement that includes a Palestinian state.
“That has been U.S. policy. That is American politics. This is American politics, “Netanyahu said, echoing Obama”s commitment to strong and lasting ties to Israel expressed by the president this week in the 63 th anniversary of the Jewish state.
Before starting the talks on Friday afternoon in the West Bank with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the envoy delivered a strong endorsement of Palestinian aspirations for independence.
“A comprehensive peace in this region should not only be a dream,” he said. “It should be and can be a reality. We want to make this really happen and soon, not in a vague and distant future,” he said.
NO FALSE EXPECTATIONS
In Washington, the State Department cautioned against any expectation of an immediate agreement, and a top aide to Palestinian in West Bank, said officials would have much work to do.
“There will be no resumption of negotiations (in proximity) with the Israelis in the coming days,” said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Abbas still waiting for a response from Mitchell on the applications Palestinian to Israel to a complete stop construction of Jewish settlements, and the U.S. envoy will return in May.
A senior Palestinian official said Abbas asked Mitchell to resume negotiations approach, but Bush said he could not do before consulting Arab states on May 1, when a committee will meet on peace in Middle East Arab League.
Mitchell said forward Washington shares his commitment to the creation of “a viable Palestinian state, independent, with contiguous territory in which the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination.”
“The Palestinians have entitled to their freedom and dignity that carries the right to determine their own future, “he said.
Netanyahu and Obama have disagreed on Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, a territory Palestinians want for a state. Abbas refuses to resume the suspended talks in December 2008 until the end of construction in the settlements.
Mitchell is looking for Netanyahu”s response to the call for Obama to take certain measures of construction confidence to persuade Abbas to enter talks” close. ” The suggestions were given to the Israeli leader in a low-profile meeting with Obama held a month ago.
Netanyahu and Mitchell talked for about two hours. Without revealing important details, a spokesman for the Israeli leader said: “The meeting was good.” They will meet again on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister is trying to settle the dispute with the closest ally of his country, but without ceding ground to Obama and Abbas in a way that can destroy the coalition Government, which is in favor of settlements.(Additional reporting by Mohammed Assadi in Ramallah, Editing by Steve Addison Spanish)