JERUSALEM (AP) — Washington's Mideast envoy is returning to the region on his first mission since the United States abandoned efforts to salvage direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

In the absence of direct talks, George Mitchell will mediate between the two sides, meeting the Israeli leader on Monday and the Palestinian president on Tuesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton wants Israel and the Palestinians to detail their positions on the major issues dividing them.

Direct talks broke down in September, just three weeks after their launch, after Israel refused to renew curbs on settlement construction.

Palestinians refused to negotiate directly without a construction freeze in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas they want in their future state.