RAMALLAH, July 17 (JMCC) - US Special Envoy George Mitchell wrapped up his latest round of meetings with the Palestinian leadership in the
West Bank.
The United States has been trying to push the Israelis and Palestinians back into direct talks, but Palestinian officials have said such a move is unlikely unless
Israel does more to prove it is interested in peace.
Palestinians and Israelis are currently conducting indirect talks through the Americans, a concession that was made after a year and half of shuttle diplomacy by the US envoy produced little results.
Mitchell called his latest meetings with the Palestinian leadership 'candid' and 'productive' and vowed to seek wider support in the region.
We are heartened by the discussions that we had heard today and the past several days, I will now visit several other countries in the region for discussions with leaders in some of the neighboring countries and our efforts will continue in that regard, Mitchell said in a statement after the meeting with Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said he will push for more Israeli
concessions during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister
Benyamin Netanyahu during their meeting in Cairo on Sunday.