George J. Mitchell, President Obama’s Middle East envoy, assured Palestinians on Wednesday of Washington’s commitment to a state of their own, calling its establishment the only viable solution to their conflict with Israel. Mr. Mitchell, speaking after talks with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, urged both sides to meet their obligations under a 2003 “road map” that commits Israel to halting settlement expansion and Palestinians to reining in militants. Mr. Abbas, after his talks with Mr. Mitchell, made no comment to reporters. But Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian negotiator, said in a statement that the United States had “made clear its intention to reinvigorate Middle East peace talks.”
Mr. Mitchell met with Israeli leaders Tuesday and said it was “beyond any doubt that the United States’ commitment to the security of Israel remains unshakeable.” Mr. Mitchell went to Israel amid a rare public dispute over settlement activity. The Obama administration has called for a halt to all settlement activity, but Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, insists that building within existing settlements should be allowed.
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