Mitchell to try igniting peace talks

JERUSALEM, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell meets with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Monday in an effort to move the peace process forward, Haaretz said.

Mitchell is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah but will focus most of his work in Israel, emphasizing to Netanyahu that he will be expected to take a position on core issues in the near future, Haaretz said.

The newspaper noted the Palestinians have already submitted their position on core issues such as borders, refugees, security, water and settlements.

Speaking at the Globes Business Conference in Tel Aviv Monday, Netanyahu said he is glad the United States gave up its demand to impose an additional settlement construction freeze.

"The U.S. understands after six months of futile discussion on the future of the settlements the important thing is to discuss core issues. ... In order to reach peace, we have to discuss the issues that are truly delaying peace," Netanyahu said.

He referred to security, refugees and the recognition of the Jewish state, The Jerusalem Post said.

In a joint interview Sunday on ABC, Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad agreed that trust between the sides must be restored, Ynetnews.com said.

Fayyad said the Palestinians want Israel to end its occupation by 2011 and Livni said it is in Israel's interest to achieve a peace treaty with the Palestinians.