Israeli official: Obama envoy coming to Mideast

[laststeamtrain]

Source: AP

Israeli official: Obama envoy coming to Mideast

JERUSALEM – President Barack Obama's special envoy to the Middle East will come to Israel Wednesday for talks on keeping alive a fragile Gaza cease-fire and reviving Mideast negotiations, an Israeli foreign ministry official said Saturday.

It is the new administration's first direct move into Mideast peace efforts.

George J. Mitchell will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and senior Israeli officials, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because Washington has not officially announced the trip.

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Mitchell will also visit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad at their headquarters in the West Bank, the official said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090125/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_us

[IndianaGreen]

1. Mitchell due in Israel Wed. as Obama launches peacemaking efforts

Here is what Haaretz has to say:

Last update - 07:58 25/01/2009

Mitchell due in Israel Wed. as Obama launches peacemaking efforts

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and The Associated Press

George Mitchell, the new Middle East envoy named by President Barack Obama, is to arrive on Wednesday in Israel and the Palestinian Authority for talks on boosting a Gaza cease-fire and reviving negotiations, a Foreign Ministry official said on Saturday. This signals the new U.S. administration's first direct foray in peace efforts.

Mitchell is expected to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, as well as with candidates for prime minister, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Likud chairman MK Benjamin Netanyahu.

The latter two, both front-running candidates for prime minister, have each claimed to be better suited than the other for working with Obama and his envoy. Both the candidates' parties, Kadima and Likud respectively, are expected to highlight this aspect of relations with Washington in their campaigns.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak is to arrive in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Defense Secretary Robert Gates and possibly also with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In weekend talks Livni held with advisers, Kadima ministers and other senior figures, she reportedly said that because she supported a two-state solution, if she becomes prime minister, the pressure will be on Iran and Hamas, and the United States will stand by us in the war on terror. But if there is an extreme-right government here, which rejects the principle of the two-state solution, the pressure will be on Israel," Livni reportedly said.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058475.html

[IndianaGreen]

2. A kick for the Sunday crowd

This is really important news. It means that after 8 years of neglect, the US is finally going to play peacemaker in the Middle East, rather than a photo op maker, as it was under Bush.

George Mitchell played a key role in bringing peace to Northern Ireland, another intractable problem at the time. Best wishes to the Mitchell mission.

[ShadesOfGrey]

3. Yes, this is VERY important. Obama is accomplishing

more in his few days in office than Bush ever did! Ditto on the "Best Wishes".
K&R