US Envoy Mitchell meets Israeli PM in Jerusalem

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell have met in Jerusalem. Their aim was to resolve a public dispute over Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, right, meets US  Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell in Jerusalem, 28 Jul 2009.(voanews.com)

After Tuesday's meeting with Mitchell, Netanyahu said progress is being made to continue and possibly even complete a peace process.

But he also says Israel must continue some building to allow for the "natural growth" of the settler population.

The US envoy calls on Israel to halt construction of homes in settlements built on captured land claimed by the Palestinians. Washington also wants Israel remove some two dozen tiny settlement outposts in the West Bank.

George Mitchell, said, "President Obama's vision is of a comprehensive peace in the Middle East which includes peace between Israel and Palestinians, between Syria and Israel and between Israel and Lebanon. And also the full normalization of relations between Israel and all its neighbors in the region."

On Tuesday, Jewish settlers in the West Bank continued erecting outposts in protest against US pressure for a settlement freeze.

The number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank has grown to more than 300-thousand reflecting the growing challenge the US faces.