'Progress' but no deal on Israeli settlements

ISRAELI PRIME minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US envoy George Mitchell both spoke of progress in Middle East peace efforts after…

ISRAELI PRIME minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US envoy George Mitchell both spoke of progress in Middle East peace efforts after talks in Jerusalem yesterday, but there was no indication of a breakthrough in the ongoing dispute over West Bank settlement construction.

The Palestinians have refused to renew peace negotiations until Israel commits to a construction freeze, but so far Israel has resisted US pressure, insisting on the right to build in existing settlements to accommodate population growth.

After 2½ hours of talks, Mr Netanyahu confirmed progress “toward achieving the understanding that will enable us to continue and complete the peace process established between us and Palestinian neighbours and the countries in the entire region”.

Mr Mitchell stressed that the US and Israel were “friends and allies”, and expressed hope that the sides were close to reaching understandings that would constitute a basis for the continuation of the diplomatic process.

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The US envoy failed, however, to indicate if a compromise was imminent on the question of settlements, which has strained the normally close ties between Israel and its most important ally in recent months. Mr Netanyahu and Mr Mitchell are expected to meet again next month.

There have been unconfirmed media reports that a deal may be in the offing according to which Israel will halt all new building projects in the West Bank in return for a green light from Washington to complete about 2,000 housing units currently under construction.

Israel confirmed this week that the number of West Bank settlers now exceeds 300,000.

On Monday settler activists set up several new hilltop outposts. Dani Dayan, who heads the West Bank settlers’ council, said: “People tell us that it is impossible to stand up against American pressure; there is no bigger lie.”

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called for international pressure on Israel, saying: “Israel shows no intention of stopping its illegal settlement activity, particularly in and around occupied east Jerusalem.”

Mr Mitchell’s talks are part of a wider US push for a comprehensive regional peace that will ultimately lead to normalisation of ties between Israel and the entire Arab world.

As part of those efforts, US national security adviser Jim Jones and US president Barack Obama’s new point man for the region, Dennis Ross, were also due in Israel last night for discussions.