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US envoy in Mid-East peace push Israel cautious on peace 'gaps'
(about 4 hours later)
The US envoy to the Middle East has arrived in Israel where he hopes to finalise an initial meeting between Palestinian and Israeli leaders. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says work still needs to be done to narrow differences before peace talks with Palestinians can resume.
George Mitchell's visit coincides with meetings between Israel's prime minister and Egypt's leader on Sunday. Mr Netanyahu, speaking before heading to Egypt for talks, said he hoped to bridge the gaps as a new push on Middle East peace got under way.
The US hopes the Palestinians and Israelis can meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this month. US Middle East envoy George Mitchell has arrived in Israel for talks.
The key stumbling block remains Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. A key stumbling block remains Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
US criticism But the US still hopes the Palestinians and Israelis can meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly later this month.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making his second visit to Cairo since May. 'Setting up obstacles'
He will meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak later on Sunday. Mr Netanyahu is set to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo later on Sunday, as Mr Mitchell meets the Israeli president and defence and foreign ministers.
Mr Netanyahu, speaking after a meeting of his cabinet on Sunday, said of the peace push: "There is still work. There are things where there has been progress and things where there still has not been.
Mr Netanyahu is making his second trip to Egypt since MayMr Netanyahu is making his second trip to Egypt since May
In Jerusalem, Mr Mitchell is due to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres, who has left hospital a day after fainting on stage. "I hope we will be able to narrow the gaps and perhaps bridge them so we will be able to get peacemaking moving."
But the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas insists he will not meet his Israeli counterparts until there is a freeze on new settlements in the West Bank. He said it was not Israel that was "setting up obstacles" to talks.
Last week Israel said it had given permission for hundreds of new homes. "From our point of view, we could do it tomorrow, or even yesterday."
The move, by Mr Netanyahu, prompted Mr Abbas to say that there was no point attending a summit with him. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas insists he will not meet his Israeli counterparts until there is a freeze on new settlements in the West Bank.
Israel has indicated that it will be willing to consider a temporary halt to granting permissions for further construction. The settlement of occupied territory is illegal under international law but Israel last week said it had given permission for hundreds of new homes.
The settlement of occupied territory is illegal under international law and the latest Israeli move drew criticism from the White House. The move prompted Mr Abbas to say that there was no point attending a summit with Mr Netanyahu.
President Barack Obama has previously said he wants all settlement activity to stop. The White House also criticised the settlement decision. President Barack Obama has previously said he wants all settlement activity to stop.
The BBC's Tim Franks, in Jerusalem says that Mr Mitchell will be seeking to square these competing positions ahead of the planned talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. Israel has indicated that it will be willing to consider a temporary halt to granting permission for further construction.
The BBC's Tim Franks, in Jerusalem, says that Mr Mitchell will be seeking to square these competing positions ahead of the planned talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
One of the key figures Mr Mitchell is expected to meet on Sunday is Israeli President Shimon Peres, who has now left hospital a day after fainting on stage.
Mr Peres, 86, collapsed briefly while standing at a lectern answering questions in Tel Aviv.
Mr Netanyahu said of the president: "He sounds, as usual, excellent and he is, of course, unstoppable."