US envoy has 'positive' meet with Abbas on talks plan
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
AMMAN, Mar 22 (AFP): US Middle East envoy George Mitchell said he had a 'positive' meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas Monday on starting US-brokered indirect negotiations with Israel as soon as possible.
The so-called proximity talks, which had been hard-won by Mitchell on a previous visit to the region, were thrown into doubt last week by Israel's announcement of new homes for Jewish settlers in annexed Arab east Jerusalem.
"We discussed a full range of issues including our common desire to enter the proximity talks at the earliest possible time," Mitchell said.
The so-called proximity talks, which had been hard-won by Mitchell on a previous visit to the region, were thrown into doubt last week by Israel's announcement of new homes for Jewish settlers in annexed Arab east Jerusalem.
"We discussed a full range of issues including our common desire to enter the proximity talks at the earliest possible time," Mitchell said.