US envoy fails to secure Palestinian agreement for direct talks with Israel
By APTuesday, August 10, 2010
US envoy falls short in latest Mideast mission
RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian negotiator says the White House Mideast envoy has failed to secure Palestinian agreement for going to direct talks with Israel.
The U.S. has been calling for a speedy resumption of negotiations, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants to first establish an agreement on a framework, agenda and timeline.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants open-ended talks without any conditions.
White House envoy George Mitchell met Tuesday with Abbas to try and move forward.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, however, said after the three-hour meeting that there was “no agreement yet.”
Mitchell is to meet with Israeli leaders on Wednesday.
U.S. officials have said Mitchell would press to begin talks by Sept. 1.
