(8 Oct 2009) SHOTLIST
1. US Mideast envoy George Mitchell being welcomed by Israeli President Shimon Peres, they shake hands for photo op and take seats
2. Mid of Mitchell, pan to Peres
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) George Mitchell, US Mideast envoy:
"We're going to continue with our efforts to achieve an early relaunch of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, because we believe that's an essential step toward achieving the comprehensive peace to which I earlier referred."
4. Mid of Mitchell and Peres seated, they stand up and shake hands
5. Wide of Israeli foreign ministry building
6. Israeli and US flags
7. Sign reading: (English) "State of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs"
8. US Mideast envoy George Mitchell's car arriving at Israeli foreign ministry, he gets out and is greeted by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, they pose beside flags and walk into building
STORYLINE
US Middle East envoy George Mitchell met with representatives of Israel's government on Thursday, in the latest peace-pushing effort overshadowed by a declaration of the country's hard-line foreign minister that there was no chance of reaching a final accord with the Palestinians any time soon.
Mitchell met with President Shimon Peres and with Foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem.
Ahead of his meeting with Mitchell, Lieberman told Israel Radio that anyone who thinks the two sides can soon reach a deal ending their decades-old conflict "doesn't understand the situation and is spreading delusions."
What the two sides should do, Lieberman continued, was to come up with a long-term interim arrangement that would ensure prosperity, security and stability, and leave the tough issues "to a much later stage."
Some regional observers says this is a classic Israeli delaying tactic, favoured by the right wing.
Peacemaking policy in Israel is decided by the prime minister's office, and not the foreign ministry but Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman carries significant weight in Israeli decision-making.
Lieberman's approach runs counter to US efforts to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal quickly.
US President Barack Obama has declared that establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel is a vital US interest. Also, Israel would not find a Palestinian partner for putting off a resolution to the conflict indefinitely.
Israeli media reported that a Mitchell aide told local journalists on Wednesday that the envoy's visit was not likely to conclude with an announcement on talks resuming but said the US would continue to push for it.
"We believe that's an essential step toward achieving the comprehensive (Mideast) peace to which I earlier referred," Mitchell told reporters as he entered a meeting with the Israeli President on Thursday.
Obama brought Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas together in New York last month in an effort to inject life into a moribund peace process - no formal talks have been held since the former Israeli premier Ehud Olmert was forced out of office earlier this year.
So far, no breakthroughs have been announced.
Since the New York summit, Mitchell met with representatives of Netanyahu and Abbas in the United States, and returned to the region this week.
He was to meet with Lieberman and Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday and has sitdowns planned with Netanyahu and Abbas for Friday.
Mitchell has been labouring for months to pressure Israel to curb settlement construction. Israel has agreed to limited and temporary restrictions on building in the West Bank, but has resisted a total freeze.
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