Home
Politics
"I was able to talk to one of (Mitchell's) aides up in New York. He told me the discussions so far have been good and constructive," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters later in Washington.
The aide also said "that this is part of our ongoing dialogue, Senator Mitchell's ongoing efforts to get negotiations started, but that we don't expect any dramatic agreement today," Kelly added.
Mitchell and Barak refused to answer any questions as the meeting began around 1205 GMT at the Hotel Intercontinental in Manhattan -- except when Barak was asked if he was optimistic about the talks as he was smiling.
"It means a smile doesn't cost too much," Barak shot back as the meeting kicked off with a photo call for news photographers. "We are naturally positive, every day."
Ties between Israel and its major ally the United States have strained in recent weeks over the US administration's insistence that the Jewish state must halt settlement building in the West Bank.
On Monday the State Department said it was not ruling out the possibility of a compromise with Israel on a settlement freeze, amid reports that Israel might be ready to agree to stall settlement construction for three months.
The New York Times first reported news of a possible settlement freeze on Monday, citing Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
But Kelly declined to comment directly on the reports.
The newspaper said the freeze could last three to six months and would be presented as a proposal by Barak during his talks Tuesday with Mitchell.
Netanyahu, who accepted the idea of a Palestinian state for the first time during a mid-June address, has refused to stop settlement construction.
And according to the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, the three-month freeze envisioned by Netanyahu would not include the thousands of buildings already under construction in many settlements, nor new building in East Jerusalem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The aide also said "that this is part of our ongoing dialogue, Senator Mitchell's ongoing efforts to get negotiations started, but that we don't expect any dramatic agreement today," Kelly added.
Mitchell and Barak refused to answer any questions as the meeting began around 1205 GMT at the Hotel Intercontinental in Manhattan -- except when Barak was asked if he was optimistic about the talks as he was smiling.
"It means a smile doesn't cost too much," Barak shot back as the meeting kicked off with a photo call for news photographers. "We are naturally positive, every day."
Ties between Israel and its major ally the United States have strained in recent weeks over the US administration's insistence that the Jewish state must halt settlement building in the West Bank.
On Monday the State Department said it was not ruling out the possibility of a compromise with Israel on a settlement freeze, amid reports that Israel might be ready to agree to stall settlement construction for three months.
The New York Times first reported news of a possible settlement freeze on Monday, citing Israeli officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
But Kelly declined to comment directly on the reports.
The newspaper said the freeze could last three to six months and would be presented as a proposal by Barak during his talks Tuesday with Mitchell.
Netanyahu, who accepted the idea of a Palestinian state for the first time during a mid-June address, has refused to stop settlement construction.
And according to the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot, the three-month freeze envisioned by Netanyahu would not include the thousands of buildings already under construction in many settlements, nor new building in East Jerusalem.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
