US restarts talks over West Bank

WASHINGTON'S special Middle East envoy yesterday began talks with Israel on halting new West Bank settlement construction to put foundering peace talks back on track.

President Barack Obama dispatched George Mitchell on an emergency mission to the Middle East to broker a compromise that would keep Palestinians from making good on their threat to abandon the talks if Israel resumes settlement building now that a 10-month moratorium has expired.

Mr Mitchell met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday and is due to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today to try to broker a compromise.

At the start of his meeting with Mr Mitchell, Mr Netanyahu said he and Mr Abbas "have an historic mission to continue those good talks" and reaffirmed his commitment to a deal that would assure Israel's security. Possible compromises include restricting new construction to major West Bank settlement blocs.

Mr Netanyahu claims his pro-settlement coalition could split if the construction curbs, which ended on Sunday, are extended.

But the Palestinians say negotiations are pointless if construction keeps taking away land they want for their future state.

Abbas has given the US mediation until at least Monday, when he meets with Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, to craft an accord.