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Netanyahu, Mitchell reach no agreement on settlement

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-19 10:59

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) stands with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell during their meeting in Jerusalem September 18, 2009, in this handout picture released by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO). [Agencies]

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting US Middle East envoy George Mitchell failed to reach an agreement on settlement freeze, local news service Ynet cited a source in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as reporting Friday.

The remarks of the source came shortly after the fourth meeting this week between Netanyahu and Mitchell on Friday afternoon. Mitchell will leave Israel for the United States later Friday.

Meanwhile, local daily Ha'aretz cited an unnamed source as reporting that no progress has been achieved in the Netanyahu-Mitchell meeting.

On Friday morning, Netanyahu and Mitchell met in Jerusalem for the third time this week, in attempts to reach agreements leading to a summit of Netanyahu, US President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Earlier this week, Netanyahu and Mitchell held two meetings, with no agreement announced on the settlements issue. A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office said the meetings were good but did not disclose whether any specific progress was made.

After Friday morning's meeting with Netanyahu, Mitchell headed to Ramallah for talks with Abbas and then returned to Jerusalem for the fourth meeting with the Israeli leader.

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"Mitchell told Abbas that no agreement was reached with the Israelis," Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian negotiator, told a press conference in Ramallah after the meeting between Abbas and Mitchell.

So far, the talks have failed to yield an agreement between Israel and the United States, while the Palestinian are imposing conditions for a tripartite New York summit next week during the UN General Assembly.

The main bone of contention remains the settlement construction, its duration and exact nature.

Netanyahu has reiterated that he would not agree to a complete settlement freeze, while the Palestinians are making this a condition for relaunching the stalled negotiations.