WEST BANK: U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy George Mitchell meets with Palestinian president Abbas

Record ID: 560200

  • Title: WEST BANK: U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy George Mitchell meets with Palestinian president Abbas
  • Date: 2nd July 2010
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 1, 2010) (REUTERS) **FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** CAR CARRYING U.S. ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST GEORGE MITCHELL, ARRIVING AT PALESTINIAN PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUND PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAEB EREKAT GREETING MITCHELL PALESTINIAN FLAG MITCHELL MEETING WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS ABBAS MITCHELL DELEGATION SITTING AT MEETING MEETING IN PROGRESS PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SAEB EREKAT APPROACHING MICROPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAEB EREKAT, PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, SAYING: "President Abbas raised with Senator Mitchell the ban on settlement activity in East Jerusalem, the demolition of homes in Silwan, the deportations of the deputies (lawmakers) and other issues concerning the Israeli practices and policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the incursions, the roadblocks and so on. SECURITY MAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAEB EREKAT, PALESTINIAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, SAYING: "The last issue Abu Mazen (Abbas) discussed with senator Mitchell is Gaza and the need to shift, to lift the siege totally from Gaza and to allow all goods to reach Gaza. Senator Mitchell briefed the President on his visit to Kerem Abu Salem (border crossing between Israel and Gaza) yesterday and said that they're exerting every possible effort in order to enable all the needs of Gaza people to get there. Thank you very much." EREKAT LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2010 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVABHDGBG8O4O4X79AP5KZHSK56W
  • Story Text: Abbas meets with U.S. envoy and calls for a total lift on the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
    U.S. envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank on Thursday (July 1) in a bid to renew direct talks with Israel and discuss core issues of the peace process.
    Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the two discussed Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the Jewish state's blockade on the Gaza Strip.
    "President Abbas raised with Senator Mitchell the ban on settlement activity in East Jerusalem, the demolition of homes in Silwan, the deportations of the deputies (Hamas lawmakers) and other issues concerning the Israeli practices and policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the incursions, the roadblocks and so on," Erekat told reporters after the meeting in Ramallah.
    "The last issue Abu Mazen (Abbas) discussed with senator Mitchell is Gaza and the need to lift the siege totally from Gaza and to allow all goods to reach Gaza. Senator Mitchell said that the (U.S. is) exerting every possible effort in order to enable all the needs of Gaza people," Erekat added.
    Under international pressure, Israel eased its Gaza land blockade on June 20, saying it would now allow all goods, except weapons and material that could be used to make them, into the territory.
    The naval blockade of the enclave, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, remains in effect.
    Mitchell is visiting the region ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on July 6 in Washington. Netanyahu says he hopes his U.S. visit would focus on starting direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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