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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US envoy in Mid-East peace push | US envoy in Mid-East peace push |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The US has launched a new drive to kick-start Middle East peace talks, with visits to Israel, Syria and Egypt by special envoy George Mitchell. | The US has launched a new drive to kick-start Middle East peace talks, with visits to Israel, Syria and Egypt by special envoy George Mitchell. |
| In Damascus, Mr Mitchell met Syria's President Bashar Assad for what the envoy called candid and positive talks. | In Damascus, Mr Mitchell met Syria's President Bashar Assad for what the envoy called candid and positive talks. |
| Mr Mitchell later flew to Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak and then made an unscheduled trip to Egypt. | Mr Mitchell later flew to Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak and then made an unscheduled trip to Egypt. |
| Other senior US officials are due to visit the region this week. | Other senior US officials are due to visit the region this week. |
| The heightened activity comes at a time of strained relations between the US and Israel. | The heightened activity comes at a time of strained relations between the US and Israel. |
| The BBC's Middle East correspondent Katya Adler says the visits are part of a week-long high level diplomatic push by Washington to re-start peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians which have been frozen for six months. | The BBC's Middle East correspondent Katya Adler says the visits are part of a week-long high level diplomatic push by Washington to re-start peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians which have been frozen for six months. |
| Talks in Syria | Talks in Syria |
| Mr Mitchell's visit to Damascus was his second since June. | Mr Mitchell's visit to Damascus was his second since June. |
| Speaking after meeting President Assad, the envoy said restarting peace talks between Syria and Israel - stalled since 2000 - was a "near-term goal". | Speaking after meeting President Assad, the envoy said restarting peace talks between Syria and Israel - stalled since 2000 - was a "near-term goal". |
| Syria wants progress on the issue of the Golan Heights | Syria wants progress on the issue of the Golan Heights |
| He said he had told the Syrian leader that US President Barack Obama was "determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace". | He said he had told the Syrian leader that US President Barack Obama was "determined to facilitate a truly comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace". |
| "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 co-operation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic in this historic endeavour," he said. | "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 co-operation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republic in this historic endeavour," he said. |
| The BBC's Lina Sinjab, in Damascus, says President Obama's commitment to talks with all parties is welcomed in Syria but not with much enthusiasm. | The BBC's Lina Sinjab, in Damascus, says President Obama's commitment to talks with all parties is welcomed in Syria but not with much enthusiasm. |
| Getting back the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is a priority in Damascus, our correspondent says. | Getting back the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is a priority in Damascus, our correspondent says. |
| The Heights are a strategic mountainous area seized by Israel in 1967. | The Heights are a strategic mountainous area seized by Israel in 1967. |
| Syria's official news agency quoted President Assad as stressing to Mr Mitchell "the Arab right to recover occupied lands through achieving a just and comprehensive peace." | Syria's official news agency quoted President Assad as stressing to Mr Mitchell "the Arab right to recover occupied lands through achieving a just and comprehensive peace." |
| Direct talks between Israel and Syria broke down nine years ago over the scale of a potential Israeli pull-back on the Golan Heights. | Direct talks between Israel and Syria broke down nine years ago over the scale of a potential Israeli pull-back on the Golan Heights. |
| 'Vital interests' | 'Vital interests' |
| Mr Mitchell later arrived in Tel Aviv where he held talks with Israel's defence minister. | Mr Mitchell later arrived in Tel Aviv where he held talks with Israel's defence minister. |
| Afterwards he described the differences with Israel as "discussions among friends... not disputes among adversaries". | Afterwards he described the differences with Israel as "discussions among friends... not disputes among adversaries". |
| US MID-EAST PEACE TEAM Special envoy to the Middle East George MitchellDefence Secretary Robert Gates National Security Advisor James JonesEnvoy to the Gulf states Dennis Ross | |
| Ehud Barak promised the full co-operation of his government in the search for peace. | Ehud Barak promised the full co-operation of his government in the search for peace. |
| "We are ready to take whatever reasonable effort to make it [the peace process] happen," he said. | "We are ready to take whatever reasonable effort to make it [the peace process] happen," he said. |
| "Of course we bear in mind our vital interests but we understand the needs of the other partners as well and we clearly need the leadership of the United States - as well as your experience and wisdom - in the attempt to achieve it.". | "Of course we bear in mind our vital interests but we understand the needs of the other partners as well and we clearly need the leadership of the United States - as well as your experience and wisdom - in the attempt to achieve it.". |
| Relations between the US and Israel have been strained, largely due to differences over the future of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. | Relations between the US and Israel have been strained, largely due to differences over the future of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. |
| Washington says continued Israeli construction in the Palestinian territories threatens to undermine future peace talks. | Washington says continued Israeli construction in the Palestinian territories threatens to undermine future peace talks. |
| Palestinians say there will be no new talks until the construction stops. | Palestinians say there will be no new talks until the construction stops. |
| Israel says some expansion must be allowed to accommodate the "natural growth" of settler families. | Israel says some expansion must be allowed to accommodate the "natural growth" of settler families. |
| Mr Mitchell also made an unscheduled trip to Egypt late on Sunday. | Mr Mitchell also made an unscheduled trip to Egypt late on Sunday. |
| A spokesman for the US embassy in Tel Aviv said the trip to Cairo came at the request of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. | A spokesman for the US embassy in Tel Aviv said the trip to Cairo came at the request of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. |
| It was not immediately clear why Mr Mubarak asked the envoy to bring forward his visit, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday. | It was not immediately clear why Mr Mubarak asked the envoy to bring forward his visit, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday. |
| Mr Mitchell is also due to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. | Mr Mitchell is also due to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. |
| As well as Mr Mitchell, US defence secretary Robert Gates, National Security Advisor James Jones and US envoy to the Gulf states Dennis Ross are due in the region for talks. | |
| Mr Gates will first meet his Israeli counterpart in Jerusalem before travelling to Jordan for discussions with King Abdullah. | Mr Gates will first meet his Israeli counterpart in Jerusalem before travelling to Jordan for discussions with King Abdullah. |
| Iran and its nuclear programme are expected to be on the agenda in talks with Israel. | Iran and its nuclear programme are expected to be on the agenda in talks with Israel. |