US Middle East envoy meets with Netanyahu on settlement freeze

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The US Middle East envoy George Mitchell has held a second meeting in two days with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is trying to press the Israeli leader to announce a settlement freeze, which is sought by Washington and the Palestinians alike.

The Wednesday meeting lasted more than two hours, without any sign of a deal on the matter. Netanyahu's office says the talks with Mitchell were good, but it did not elaborate.

A possible meeting next week at the UN General Assembly in New York involving Obama, Netanyahu, and Abbas appears to hang on the outcome of Mitchell's efforts.

Mitchell has been trying to work out a deal with Netanyahu over US President Barack Obama's demand that the Israeli Prime Minister should halt construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) stands with U.S.  Middle East envoy George Mitchell before their meeting in Jerusalem  September 16, 2009.REUTERS/Ammar Awad