Mitchell: Palestinians want talks to continue

Mitchell

The Palestinians want peace talks with Israel to continue, the American envoy said in Cairo on Sunday. "Despite their differences, both the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority have asked us to continue these discussions in an effort to establish the conditions under which they can continue direct negotiations," George Mitchell said after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

"They both want to continue these negotiations, they do not want to stop the talks," he added, according to AFP.

Late Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Palestinians "to continue the peace talks without a break with the aim of reaching a historic accord in a year."

"We are pursuing this effort continuing discussions today, in the past several days and in the next several days with the two parties, with other leaders in the region, in Europe and elsewhere, including the members of the (Mideast) Quartet," Mitchell said in Cairo.