Obama's envoy urges Syria, Lebanon to join Mideast talks

U.S. President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, held his second meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 48 hours in Amman on Sunday and pledged continued efforts to ensure the creation of a "viable" Palestinian state.

In remarks to reporters after the meeting, Mitchell said the United States would press ahead with efforts for the accomplishment of the "two-state solution."

However, Mitchell said that Syria and Lebanon should be involved in the peace negotiations so that all countries of the region can enjoy "normal ties."

Abbas told Mitchell during their talks that the Palestinians were committed to reaching a peace agreement based on clear negotiations and a complete cessation of Israeli activity in West Bnk settlements, according to the PA leader's aides.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat added, following the president's talks with Mitchell, that the Palestinians were intent on continued cooperation with the Obama administration regarding Midrast peace efforts.

Erekat said that the Palestinians were making every efforts to see President Barack Obama's vision for a peace agreement brought into fruition.

He cast blame on Israel for the delay in progress thus far, and urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abandon any precondition for a renewal of negotiations.

Jordanian King Abdullah II, meanwhile, urged Mitchell to intensify efforts to achieve the "needed progress" in relaunching meaningful peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mitchell briefed the Jordanian head of state on the outcome of his talks over the past two days with Netanyahu and Abbas.

"The monarch stressed the need for continuing U.S. efforts to ensure a resumption of effective negotiations with a view to accomplishing the two-state solution and ensuring that the needed progress is made in the peace process," according to a royal court statement said.

Mitchell and Abdullah discussed "how to surmount the obstacles facing ongoing efforts to ensure the resumption of the Palestinian- Israeli negotiations in accordance with clear criteria and references and within a definite timetable", the statement added.

Abdullah also urged the U.S. to continue its support for the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas.

Mitchell separate meetings with Netanyahu and Abbas on Sunday, despite the appearance that his efforts to restart talks between the two sides have failed once again.

Top U.S. officials told Haaretz on Saturday that they had low expectations of any major developments. "No breakthrough is expected on the resumption of the negotiations during this visit," a source said.

The senior U.S. officials said they were still working on a formula that could restart talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. They say Mitchell would not be carrying a letter of assurances to Israel and the Palestinians.

"We are frustrated but not disheartened," a senior official said. "No breakthrough is expected but we are continuing with our efforts. There are still things we have not tried."

The Americans said Mitchell would continue in his efforts and did not plan to resign.

On the Israeli side, too, officials have low expectations. Netanyahu stressed to Mitchell during their meeting Thursday that the prime minister would commit to a series of goodwill gestures but would not carry them out unless the Palestinians announce that they are returning to the negotiating table.

"The key to the resumption of talks is not with us but with the Palestinians," said a senior Israeli official familiar with Mitchell's recent talks.