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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| US envoys set for Mid-East talks | US envoys set for Mid-East talks |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Senior US officials are in the Middle East as part of a drive to breathe new life into the faltering peace process. | Senior US officials are in the Middle East as part of a drive to breathe new life into the faltering peace process. |
| US defence secretary Robert Gates is set to meet his Israeli counterpart, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, and then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. | US defence secretary Robert Gates is set to meet his Israeli counterpart, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, and then Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. |
| US envoy George Mitchell - arriving in Egypt from talks in Syria and Israel - will meet President Hosni Mubarak. | US envoy George Mitchell - arriving in Egypt from talks in Syria and Israel - will meet President Hosni Mubarak. |
| Both the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the perceived threat posed by Iran are on the agenda for talks. | Both the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the perceived threat posed by Iran are on the agenda for talks. |
| In Tel Aviv on Sunday, Mr Mitchell reassured Israeli officials of Washington's unshakeable commitment to its security. | In Tel Aviv on Sunday, Mr Mitchell reassured Israeli officials of Washington's unshakeable commitment to its security. |
| Relations have become strained since US President Barack Obama demanded a halt to all Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank. | Relations have become strained since US President Barack Obama demanded a halt to all Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank. |
| Diplomatic push | Diplomatic push |
| 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 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. |
| US OFFICIALS' WEEK OF DIPLOMACY Special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell (to Syria, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Egypt, Bahrain)Defence Secretary Robert Gates (to Israel, Jordan)National Security Advisor James Jones (to Israel)Envoy to the Gulf states Dennis Ross (to Israel) | |
| Palestinian leaders have refused to meet their Israeli counterparts until settlement activity has stopped. | Palestinian leaders have refused to meet their Israeli counterparts until settlement activity has stopped. |
| All settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Israel has settled more than 450,000 Jews in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. | All settlements are illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Israel has settled more than 450,000 Jews in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. |
| Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions will be the focus of Mr Gates's talks with the Israelis, reports the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem. | Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions will be the focus of Mr Gates's talks with the Israelis, reports the BBC's Katya Adler in Jerusalem. |
| Israel's government argues that until the perceived Iranian threat has been diminished there can be no Middle East peace. The Obama administration sympathises, but disagrees, our correspondent says. | Israel's government argues that until the perceived Iranian threat has been diminished there can be no Middle East peace. The Obama administration sympathises, but disagrees, our correspondent says. |
| Meanwhile Mr Mitchell arrived a day early in Cairo, at Mr Mubarak's request. | Meanwhile Mr Mitchell arrived a day early in Cairo, at Mr Mubarak's request. |
| 'Candid' talks | 'Candid' talks |
| Following talks with the Egyptian president, Mr Mitchell is due to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. | Following talks with the Egyptian president, Mr Mitchell is due to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. |
| In Damascus on Sunday, Mr Mitchell met Syrian President Bashar Assad for what he called "very candid and positive" discussions on restarting long-stalled peace talks between Syria and Israel. | In Damascus on Sunday, Mr Mitchell met Syrian President Bashar Assad for what he called "very candid and positive" discussions on restarting long-stalled peace talks between Syria and Israel. |
| Other senior US officials - National Security Adviser James Jones and the US envoy to the Gulf states, Dennis Ross - are also due to visit the region this week. | Other senior US officials - National Security Adviser James Jones and the US envoy to the Gulf states, Dennis Ross - are also due to visit the region this week. |
| Mr Gates will follow his Israeli talks with a trip to Jordan for discussions with King Abdullah. | Mr Gates will follow his Israeli talks with a trip to Jordan for discussions with King Abdullah. |
| Are you in the region? Can the push for Middle East peace work? You can send us your views using the form below: | Are you in the region? Can the push for Middle East peace work? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |