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Last update - 12:22 21/01/2009
Obama considering veteran troubleshooter George Mitchell as Mideast envoy
By Reuters
Tags: Barack Obama, George Mitchell 

President Barack Obama will move quickly to name a Middle East envoy and is strongly considering former Sen. George Mitchell for the job, sources familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

The naming of the veteran international troubleshooter to the role would signal that Obama was serious about carrying out his campaign pledge to engage early in his administration on the Middle East issue, analysts said.

Best known for peacemaking efforts in Northern Ireland, the former Senate majority leader, 75, also has experience in the Middle East. Mitchell was appointed by former President Bill Clinton to find ways to halt Israeli-Palestinian violence.
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"This is a tremendous signal of (Obama's) desire to nail down once and for all a Palestinian-Israeli peace," said Gregory Orfalea, who teaches Arab-American history at Georgetown University.

If he gets the job, Mitchell's first challenge would be dealing with the crisis in Gaza, where Israeli troops are withdrawing after a 22-day offensive.

Mitchell's 2001 report on the Israelis and Palestinians called for Israel to freeze construction of new settlements and to stop shooting at unarmed demonstrators, and Palestinians to prevent attacks and punish those who perpetrated them.

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      1.   That would be a (very) good choice indeed..... 02:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/01/09
      2.   Wrong candidate 02:34  |  Brod 21/01/09
      3.   Mitchell is a Good Choice 03:07  |  Mark of Lewiston 21/01/09
      4.   There we go 03:20  |  Colin Wright 21/01/09
      5.   A Move in the Right Direction 03:50  |  Jezreel 21/01/09
      6.   Brod 04:09  |  Bazmann 21/01/09
      7.   Great News 05:13  |  Bryan 21/01/09
      8.   Smart move if true 07:31  |  Palestinan 21/01/09
      9.   I hope it is true 07:35  |  Kiv 21/01/09
      10.   Like clockwork. 07:38  |  ManintheMiddle 21/01/09
      11.   6 Bazmann - Mitchell will need a Deputy 07:51  |  Mark of Lewiston 21/01/09
      12.   Does Mr. George Mitchell know? 08:23  |  Jean Van Daem 21/01/09
      13.   HE`D BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE 08:56  |  Arik Silverman 21/01/09
      14.   it makes no difference 10:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/01/09
      15.   a great selection 12:52  |  Stan 21/01/09
      16.   You`re right: It makes no difference 13:29  |  Kaelinda 21/01/09
      17.   The Correct Biblical Move 15:51  |  Shimon Cleopas 21/01/09
      18.   Credentials in mid east 15:55  |  eric 21/01/09
      19.   "The more things change the more they stay the same." 16:49  |  old Chinese addage 21/01/09
      20.   not a zionist, he`s perfect! 17:10  |  bashar 21/01/09
      21.   To Brod #2 17:13  |  A Reader 21/01/09
      22.   Mitchell 18:32  |  Axl 21/01/09
      23.   re 2 brod 00:42  |  Axel 23/01/09
      24.   Obama should be wary 05:23  |  Brod 23/01/09
      25.   enjoying 02:27  |  hokkanen pertti 25/01/09
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