A Palestinian negotiator says the White House Mideast envoy has failed to secure Palestinian agreement for going to direct talks with Israel. The US has been calling for a speedy resumption of negotiations, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants to first establish an agreement on a framework, agenda and timeline. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants open-ended talks without any conditions. White House envoy George Mitchell met Tuesday with Abbas to try and move forward. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, however, said after the three-hour meeting that there was “no agreement yet.” Mitchell is to meet with Israeli leaders on Wednesday. US officials have said Mitchell would press to begin talks by Sept. 1.
