George Mitchel Expected in Middle East Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Sunday January 25, 2009 11:06 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

US Special Envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchel, is slated to arrive in Tel Aviv on Wednesday in an attempt to boost the efforts of the new U.S administration in achieving a settlement to the Middle East conflict, the Arabs48 news website reported.

Mitchel will also be visiting the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Egypt and most likely several other countries. The aim of his trip is “to activate the Middle East peace process and boost the fragile ceasefire in Gaza”.

An official US statement said that Mitchel will also be attempting to “resolve the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip”

Mitchel, 75, is the son of an Irish immigrant to the US and a Lebanese mother. He became known in the Middle East after a report he prepared when Bill Clinton was the US president. The report was on the causes that led to the second Intifada.

He called on pressuring Israel in order to stop its settlement activities and to boost the Palestinian security forces.

After he was appointed to his new post, Mitchel said that peace in the Middle East is a “security interest to the US”.

Israeli, Arab and western officials, said that Mitchel will visit Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan and maybe Syria, but all officials added that it is unlikely that he will hold talks with officials of Hamas. Mitchel will likely visit Saudi Arabia in his one week trip.

Israel is still rejecting to lift the siege on Gaza, an issue which will most likely affect the future of the fragile ceasefire, and will affect the rebuilding of the coastal region.

The Arabs48 reported that a Palestinian source, close to the truce talks mediated by Egypt, said that the continued siege in Gaza will affect the outcome of truce talks.

The official added that it appears that Israel and Hamas will be committed to the ceasefire as long as there is Egyptian mediation, but no noticeable results have been achieved to create a solid truce.

Israel insists that Hamas must be deprived from any political achievement, and that the Israeli restrictions on the borders will provide Israel more means to pressure Hamas in any future prisoner swap talks.

The Arabs48 also reported that Hamas declared its acceptance to deploy security forces, loyal to president Mahmoud Abbas, at the Rafah border terminal, the only link Gaza has with the outside world. Yet, Hamas wants to chose the members of the presidential guard, an issue which is totally rejected by Israel.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources in Gaza reported that Hamas intends to start the distribution of financial aid to families directly affected by the latest Israeli offensive. The families will be paid up to 4000 Euro as an initial step before rebuilding the shelled facilities and homes in Gaza.

Israel is barring the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, from transferring money to Gaza to pay government employees and support families in need.