Mitchell to Barak: U.S. commitment to Israel security is 'unshakable'

U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, reaffirmed Sunday his country's allegiance to Israel, amid tensions between Washington and Jerusalem over Israeli construction in the West Bank.

"The American commitment to Israel's security is unshakable and will not change," Mitchell told Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to accede to a request by Obama that Israel halt construction in West Bank settlements and East Jerusalem, flaring tensions between the allies.

Mitchell, whose visit to Israel followed a trip to Syria, said ongoing talks between the United States and Israel were "discussions among friends."

Speaking at Barak's Tel Aviv office, the envoy added the talks were "intended to help what we share in common, a desire for comprehensive peace in the Middle East and that includes Israel and Palestine, Israel and Syria, Israel and Lebanon and normal relations with all countries In the regions."

Barak, for his part, thanked Michell for U.S. efforts to bring about regional peace, especially with regard to an Israeli-Palestinian accord.

"I can tell you that we are ready to take whatever effort to make it happen," he pledged to Mitchell.

The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv said Mitchell would make a quick trip to Egypt late Sunday before returning for more talks on Monday. Embassy spokesman Kurt Hoyer said the trip to Cairo came at the request of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

It was not immediately known why Mubarak asked Mitchell to move up his visit, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hossam Zaki, said Mitchell will meet with Mubarak and other officials Monday.

Mitchell and Barak have attempted in a series of meetings over the past several weeks in New York and London to forge a compromise on settlement expansion, an issue at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Palestinian leaders have said peace talks with Israel, frozen for the past six months, cannot resume unless all settlement activity ceases.

Barak has raised the possibility of halting construction in settlements while allowing building projects already under way to continue, as part of a deal under which Arab countries would take initial steps to normalize relations with Israel.

Mitchell: U.S. wants Syria help in Israel-Palestinian talks

Earlier Sunday, Mitchell said that the U.S. wants Syria's help in forging a deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

Following his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Mitchell said that restarting talks between Syria, which backs the Palestinian group Hamas, and Israel was a "near-term goal" for Washington.

"If we are to succeed, we will need Arabs and Israelis alike to work with us to bring about comprehensive peace. We will welcome the full cooperation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic in this historic endeavour," he said.

The indirect talks between Syria and Israel, which were being mediated by Turkey, were suspended during the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in December. Turkey said this month it was ready to resume mediation of those talks.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks backed by a quartet of Middle East peace mediators - the European Union, the U.S., the United Nations and Russia - are also frozen.

Mitchell described his discussion with Assad as "very candid and positive" but he did not say what the U.S. expected from Syria, especially on Hamas.

The Islamist group, which has controlled Gaza since defeating forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas 2007 opposes Abbas' approach to peace with Israel.

Hamas has also resisted international pressure to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept past agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Syria's support for Hamas has contributed to deteriorating ties between Damascus and Washington over recent years, which improved after U.S. President Barack Obama came to office in January, and said Middle East peace was a U.S. priority.

Syria remains under U.S. sanctions but Obama has decided to return an ambassador to Syria. Washington withdrew its envoy in 2005 to protest against the assassination in Beirut of Rafik al-Hariri, a Lebanese parliamentarian and former prime minister.

"I told President Assad that President Obama is determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace," Mitchell told reporters.

Syrian officials privately say Damascus has played a role in bringing Hamas to a more accommodating position on peace with Israel, including recent statements by the group calling for the establishment of Palestinian state.

Netanyahu: Israel-U.S. relationship still steadfast

Meanwhile, Netanyahu played down sharp differences with the U.S. over West Bank settlements on Sunday ahead of Mitchell's arrival.

"It is only natural, that within a fabric of friendly relations between allies, there isn't full agreement on all points," Netanyahu said.

Mitchell was due see Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and hold discussions with Netanyahu on Tuesday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates also plans talks in Israel. He was due to meet Netanyahu and Barak on Monday to discuss missile defense, Iran's nuclear ambitions and bilateral security issues, a senior U.S. defense official said.

"This relationship is important and steadfast," Netanyahu, who has refused to meet Obama's demand to freeze settlements in the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem, told his cabinet about U.S.-Israeli ties.

"We are trying to reach understandings on various issues so that we can, together, advance our common goals: peace, security and prosperity for all of the Middle East," Netanyahu said.

Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom echoed Netanyahu's sentiment, saying that recent talk of tension between Israel and the U.S. does not in any way reflect reality.

Netanyahu has pledged not to build new settlements or expropriate additional territory in the West Bank, where Palestinians hope to build a state.

But he has said construction in settlements to accommodate the "natural growth" of their populations must continue.

Palestinians say they fear settlements could deny them a viable and contiguous state.

In another sign of tensions between Netanyahu's right-leaning government and the Obama administration, the Israeli leader has also rejected U.S. pressure to halt the planned construction of 20 new homes for Jews in East Jerusalem.

	Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, welcoming U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell before a meeting in Damascus on Sunday.
	Photo by: (Reuters)