US envoy meets Israeli PM

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The United States' envoy to the Middle East has assured Israeli leaders that his country's support for the Jewish state remains firm.

George Mitchell held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. The two agreed that both countries' goal was peace and security in the Middle East.

Mitchell's comments appeared aimed at tempering a very public disagreement with the new Israeli government.

He called for an immediate resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and called on both sides to honor past commitments of the "road map" peace plan.

But Netanyahu has refused to endorse US calls to support the creation of a Palestinian state and freeze settlement construction on captured lands claimed by the Palestinians.

Mitchell earlier held talks with Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, defence minister Ehud Barak, and president Shimon Peres.