US Envoy George Mitchell requests a one year settlement freeze

Thursday August 06, 2009 11:55 by Katherine Orwell - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell asked Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for a one year freeze on Isettlement building, on Wednesday. 

Mitchell raised the idea last week during meetings with Netanyahu and Barak and formally requested the plan on Wednesday. Mitchell argued that Arab states will not make gestures toward normalization with Israel without a guarantee of an end to building in the settlements. Mitchell said an Israeli agreement to temporarily freeze construction would facilitate concessions from the Arab states.  

A senior source in Jerusalem told Israeli media that both Netanyahu and Barak didn't reject the request, but that they disagreed over details of the plan, initially suggesting the freeze last six months at most, instead of the one-year period Mitchell is aiming for. Among other points of disagreement are plans for what happens at the end of the freeze period, and the fate of the 2,500 housing units already under construction. The Israeli paper said Mitchell is attempting to reduce the number to be completed, while Netanyahu and Barak would see all of them completed.

Further negotiations over the issue will take place in London on the 26th of August, where another round of talks between Mitchell and Netanyahu will take place. A highly-placed source in Jerusalem told Israeli media he expected agreement on the issue at the meeting.