GAZA, April 4 (Saba) -- US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell is to visit the region to urge officials to re-launching indirect negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, the public Israeli radio reported on Sunday, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

US President Barack Obama had called upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop settlements in Jerusalem for four months, to enable the resumption of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

The US request came after Israel announced it will build 1,600 housing units in Jerusalem, coinciding with US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the region, within the framework of Washington's efforts to resume peace talks in the Middle East.
The Palestinian Authority refused negotiations, especially after the recent Israeli announcement concerning the housing units.

-- Later in Ramallah, the West Bank, the Palestinian chief negotiator, Saeb Oreikat, said date for Mithell's visit to the region has not been set yet.
He told Voice of Palestine Radio the Americans have not declared the date for the forecast regional mission.

The Palestinian leadership is holding daily contacts with the US Administration on prospects of resuming the peace negotiations and means of preparing the atmosphere for these talks, Oreikat said.

The authority is also sparing no effort to nudge the international community halt the escalatory measures by the Israeli government, such as revoking recently-declared decisions on the expansion of settlements, and halting military attacks and raids as well as lifting the siege of Gaza.

Israel Radio earlier today said Mitchell would visit the region to test the waters anew for holding proximity peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.


Saba