Mitchell assured Israel on Tuesday that Washington would remain its close
ally despite differences over West Bank settlements and peacemaking with the
Palestinians.

U.S. envoy suggests possible West Bank land exchange
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and DPA Last update - 16:30
10/06/2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1091798.html

The U.S. must create the conditions for the speedy resumption of
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Washington's envoy to the region said
Wednesday in Ramallah, as he assured Palestinians that America would never
abandon their "legitimate aspirations."
During his talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, U.S. special
envoy George Mitchell also introduced the possibility of a territorial
exchange in the West Bank as part of the peace process.

Mitchell reportedly brought up the idea of offering the Palestinians Ma'aleh
Adumim and the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, according to the BBC.

The U.S. envoy also put forth a possible compromise to the Palestinian
refugee issue, said the BBC.

"The only viable solution for this conflict is for the aspirations of both
sides to be met in two states," former U.S. senator Mitchell told
journalists after meeting Abbas in the West Bank city.

"The U.S. has an obligation to create conditions for the prompt resumption
and early conclusion of negotiations," he said, adding that "America will
not turn our back to the legitimate Palestinians aspirations for dignity,
opportunity and a state of their own."

Israelis and Palestinians, he said, had to meet their obligations under the
international Road Map peace plan.

"It is in their interest as well as the interest of other countries in the
region," he said.

The road map, a performance-based initiative, outlines a series of steps the
sides have to take, culminating in a Palestinian state being established
alongside Israel.

Although Israel has previously accepted the road map, Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to explicitly endorse the establishment of a
Palestinian state, and has rejected the U.S. demand, which is also an
Israeli obligation under the peace plan, to halt all settlement activity.

On Tuesday, Mitchell met with Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The former U.S. senator and broker of the Good Friday peace agreement in
Northern Ireland communicated the Obama administration's desire to see the
Gaza crossings reopened so as to enable the entry of building materials for
post-war reconstruction.

Mitchell added that Washington understands the need for proper border
inspections that will ensure no building material be used by Hamas. The U.S.
seeks to involve Hamas' rival, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, in
the process so that the crossings' reopening not be interpreted as a Hamas
achievement, Mitchell said.

Mitchell also reiterated on Tuesday that the Obama administration is
adamantly insisting on a freeze of construction in all Israeli settlements
in the West Bank.

Mitchell said that opposition to Israel's settlement policy has been
Washington's position for the last 40 years, and that the administration had
no intention of backing down on the demand for a total freeze.

During their meeting on Tuesday, Netanyahu told Mitchell: "Israel is acting
to advance peace and security with the Palestinians and with the Arab
world."

In his round of meetings with senior Israeli officials on Tuesday, Mitchell
demonstrated a more moderate tack in discussing his government's
disagreements with Jerusalem over West Bank settlements.

Mitchell assured Israel on Tuesday that Washington would remain its close
ally despite differences over West Bank settlements and peacemaking with the
Palestinians.

Mitchell said the U.S. commitment to Israeli security is unshakable, adding,
"We come here to talk not as adversaries and in disagreement, but as friends
in discussion."

The envoy made the comments Netanyahu at his side before a meeting with the
premier Tuesday evening.

Earlier Tuesday, Mitchell told President Shimon Peres his goal was to create
conditions for "prompt resumption and early conclusion" of talks leading to
the establishment of a Palestinian state "side by side in peace and security
with the Jewish state of Israel".

"Let me be clear. These are not disagreements among adversaries. The United
States and Israel are and will remain close allies and friends," Mitchell
said. He later voiced the same sentiment.
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