Mitchell meets Barak in latest bid to restart ME peace talks
Saturday, 24 April 2010
United States (US) envoy George Mitchell held talks with Defence Minister Ehud Barak Friday in the first round of a new mission to the region to revive Middle East peace negotiations amid strains in US-Israeli relations, reports Internet.
Barak Monday sounded a public alarm over the state of ties with Israel's closest ally, saying Israel's coalition "must act to change things."
A statement from his office said he had talked with Mitchell for an hour "about renewing talks with the Palestinians," but it gave no details. The statement said Barak "wished Senator Mitchell every success in his current mission."
The defense minister will hold another round of talks with Mitchell, as well as with other senior members of the Obama administration, during his visit to Washington next week.
Mitchell was due to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem Friday afternoon, and later with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Barak Monday sounded a public alarm over the state of ties with Israel's closest ally, saying Israel's coalition "must act to change things."
A statement from his office said he had talked with Mitchell for an hour "about renewing talks with the Palestinians," but it gave no details. The statement said Barak "wished Senator Mitchell every success in his current mission."
The defense minister will hold another round of talks with Mitchell, as well as with other senior members of the Obama administration, during his visit to Washington next week.
Mitchell was due to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem Friday afternoon, and later with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.