Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., August 18, 2009 Av 28, 5769 | | Israel Time: 00:48 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Last update - 00:37 01/01/2009
Netanyahu envoy departs for U.S. to negotiate settlement freeze
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Settlements, George Mitchell 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy to negotiations with the Obama administration will depart on Sunday for meetings with U.S. officials in an attempt to negotiate a possible future settlement freeze.

Yitzhak Molcho is expected to meet with White House officials and with the staff of U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell, preparing the ground for a meeting between Netanyahu and Mitchell that is due to take place on August 26 in London.

Molcho's trip will focus on efforts to bridge the gaps in the Israeli and American stances in regards to future settlement construction.
Advertisement

Israel is reportedly willing to agree to a six-month settlement freeze, but the Americans are interested in a halt to all settlement construction for at least one year.

In addition, the U.S. administration is interested in using any settlement freeze reached with Israel to encourage moderate Arab nations to normalize their ties with Israel.

The U.S. would then announce these mutual gestures in a bid to restart the peace process. Washington is placing an emphasis on re-launching negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.

The Prime Minister's Office said they hoped that the meeting in London scheduled for later this month would further understanding between Israel and the United States. Then, the PMO added, the settlement issue could be removed from the negotiating table between the two countries and end recent tensions.

However, Israeli officials believe that an additional meeting between Mitchell and Netanyahu would be needed.

In any event, Netanyahu would like to strike a final deal as part of a scheduled meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, which is due to take place during the United Nation's General Assembly at the end of September.

Talks between Israeli and U.S. representatives on the future of settlement construction were held last week as well, when former U.S. ambassador to Jordan David Hale met with Foreign Ministry officials.

Meanwhile, email correspondences and telephone calls have been conducted between Molcho, Uzi Arad, and Ron Dermer and Mitchell's staff, as well as with White House officials Dan Shapiro and Denis Ross.

Related articles:
  • Mubarak wants Obama to present his peace plan soon
  • Obama's America is not delivering the goods
  • Oman, Qatar: We'll renew Israel ties if it freezes settlements
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Theft in the IDF
    Chief of Staff Ashkenazi revealed as mystery figure at center of credit card scam.
    Is Disney bad for kids?
    One Israeli educator says Disney promotes negative stereotypes of the 'other.'
      1.   Netanyahu`s "negotiating" 00:29  |  Kalil 01/01/09
      2.   Netanyahu Envoy 00:11  |  Bruria 01/01/09
      3.   Thanks 00:26  |  Zaina Kayed Shehab 01/01/09
      4.   A New Era of American Diplomacy: Obama and the Charismatic Clinto 00:38  |  ismail imadudeen 01/01/09
      5.   No more Mitchell 00:48  |  Brod 01/01/09
      6.   one man one vote in Israel is the answer 00:32  |  Myron Cone 01/01/09
      7.   ?Settlements? as a critical obstacle to peace ? 00:36  |  B. Gold 01/01/09
      8.   #7 - Settlements as a critical obstacle to peace 00:10  |  Jose 01/01/09
      9.   To Bruria that land was private had nothing to do with the bill 00:30  |  Jason 01/01/09
      10.   What to negotiate ? 00:28  |  Jan Elshout 01/01/09
      11.   #7, Yes according to Obama... 00:28  |  Edward 01/01/09
      12.   # 11 edward 00:59  |  Axel 01/01/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Salt
    From the Dead Sea Coupon cofe Haaretz for 10% off!
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    Master's Program in Desert Studies
    An innovative, multidisciplinary, international program specialized in Desert Research
    Dead Sea Cosmetics .Summer Specials
    Velvet Hand Cream just $14.90
    Handmade In Tel Aviv
    Itay Noy, Timepiece Maker
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    00:10 'New U.S. plan calls for demilitarized Palestine'
    00:41 Mubarak: Israel blocked progress in deal for 'our prisoner' Shalit
    00:28 Iran says ready for nuclear talks without preconditions
    00:26 Did Netanyahu drop demand for recognition of Israel as 'Jewish state'?
    00:45 Israeli woman dies of swine flu, bringing toll to 10
    00:38 Analysis / Israel wrecked Arafat, crowned Hamas, and gave birth to Al-Qaida in Gaza
    00:14 TV ROUND-UP: Ministers visit outposts, Huckabee backs settlements
    00:54 Nazis forced some female prisoners to work in brothels
    00:42 Panel to probe claims of human uranium experiments in Dimona
    00:17 Tira man shot dead in city's industrial center
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved