The special U.S. envoy for Middle East peace says President Barack Obama has ordered him to «exert all effort» to help Israelis and Palestinians restart peace talks. Former senator George Mitchell will be traveling to the Middle East this week. During a stopover in Norway on Monday, Mitchell said that he will «try to create a circumstance in which the parties can begin immediate discussion on substantive issues.» Mitchell said Obama has made clear to his administration that a two-state solution is the only viable one, according to a report of Associated Press. On Friday, Obama repeated during a visit to Germany his call for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a halt to Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank.
