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Last update - 23:39 24/01/2009
Diplomats: Obama's Mideast envoy Mitchell expected next week
By Reuters
Tags: IDF, George Mitchell, Gaza 

President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East will come to Israel on Wednesday for talks on boosting a Gaza ceasefire and reviving Mideast negotiations, the new administration's first direct foray in peace efforts, a Foreign Ministry official said Saturday.

The official said George J. Mitchell would meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior Israeli officials.

Mitchell will also visit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime
M
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inister Salam Fayyad at their headquarters in the West Bank, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because Washington has not officially announced the trip.

The official said that Mitchell would discuss restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip, and ways to impose an effective arms blockade against the radical Islamic Hamas which rules Gaza and for years has been firing rockets into Israel.

The embargo and the opening of the blockaded territory's borders are key to sustaining a week-old cease-fire by Israel and Hamas.

In Washington, the White House and State Department declined to comment, but diplomats familiar with Mitchell's travel plans said he would visit Israel and the West Bank with possible stops in Egypt and Jordan on a tour that could last eight to 10 days.

His exact itinerary is not yet settled, the diplomats said, but he will be working to secure an Israel-Hamas cease-fire, improve the humanitarian
situation for Gazans and gauge prospects for continuing the peace process.

The diplomats also spoke on condition of anonymity because the trip had not been formally announced.

Obama last Thursday named Mitchell as his Middle East envoy, saying one of his key tasks would be ensuring that the cease-fire in Gaza lasts.

In a news conference at the U.S. State Department, Obama said the outline for a "durable cease-fire" in Gaza was clear.

"Hamas must end its rocket fire, Israel will complete the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. The United States and our partners will support a credible anti-smuggling and interdiction regime so that Hamas cannot rearm," the new president said in his first major speech on the region since he took office last Tuesday.

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.

Israel's ambassador to the U.S., Sallai Meridor, lauded Mitchell's appointment.

"As the United States and Israel continue to work jointly on achieving peace and stability in the Middle East, and of countering the common threat of terrorism and state sponsors of terror from acquiring nuclear weapons, we warmly welcome and congratulate Senator George Mitchell on his appointment as special envoy for Middle East peace," Meridor said.

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    Reviving the Mideast
    U.S envoy to the Mideast is due to arrive in Israel for talks on boosting a Gaza cease-fire.
    Iranian uranium
    London Times: Iran's supply of yellow cake may run out within months.
      1.   Welcome Back George! 18:12  |  Natallie Durson 24/01/09
      2.   DELETED BY MODERATOR 18:22  |  BBSNews 24/01/09
      3.   Unless core issues are dealt with... 18:27  |  Joseph L. 24/01/09
      4.   Americans want it to end 19:44  |  Tevye 24/01/09
      5.   George Mitchell 20:11  |  Harold 24/01/09
      6.   Mideast Envoy 20:14  |  harold 24/01/09
      7.   Incomplete Report 20:18  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/01/09
      8.   Mitchell is half-Lebanese 20:19  |  JM 24/01/09
      9.   If Mr G.Mitchell´s mission is 2B successful then hehas got 21:25  |  Ibrahim Bey 24/01/09
      10.   #8JM. SO what if he is half Lebanese, are verybody in Israel are 21:30  |  Imran 24/01/09
      11.   #7, Mark of Lewiston 21:36  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 24/01/09
      12.   The IRA was labelled a terrorist group but Mitchell 22:00  |  Pronsias 24/01/09
      13.   Oh Goody! It`s time for Milk, Cookies & Peace 00:44  |  dp 25/01/09
      14.   Obama is the hammer-head of a hammer-head storm cloud 01:17  |  Weather Report 25/01/09
      15.   Israels failure to win has negative diplomatic consequences 01:20  |  Only the strong 25/01/09
      16.   dp, oh yes there is an end-game 01:53  |  David James Vickery 25/01/09
      17.   No friend of Israel? 01:55  |  janet 25/01/09
      18.   Don`t forget to remind Mitchell 02:15  |  Nechama 25/01/09
      19.   Don`t expect much from Mitchell 02:16  |  Nechama 25/01/09
      20.   Don`t expect much from Mitchell 02:16  |  Nechama 25/01/09
      21.   to Ibrahim Bey 02:22  |  Hanan 25/01/09
      22.   THE DEFEATIST KADIMA PARTY WILL CAVE IN TO TERROR 02:31  |  ABE SCHWARTZ 25/01/09
      23.   Mitchell is irrelevant 03:49  |  Brod 25/01/09
      24.   Mitchel must visit Gaza and see the Israeli war crimes 04:14  |  BIG 25/01/09
      25.   Israel`s free ride is over 08:25  |  Benjamin 25/01/09
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