U.S. envoy sees Netanyahu in bid to save talks

Mitchell said US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had asked him to deliver a message to Israelis and Palestinians assuring them of their commitment to achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

8220;We knew this would be a road with many bumps 8212; and there have been many bumps,and that continues to this day8221;,Mitchell said in a video released by Israel8217;s Government Press Office of comments he made at the meeting.

8220;But we are not deterred. We are,to the contrary,determined more than ever to proceed to realise the common objective which we all share,of a Middle East that is at peace,with security and prosperity for the people of Israel,the Palestinians and for all the people in the region.8221;

Peace talks that began on September 2 were plunged into crisis after a 10-month moratorium on new housing construction in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank expired on Monday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to quit the negotiations unless the measure is extended,but has put off a decision until an Arab League forum discusses the issue on October 4.

Netanyahu,whose governing coalition is dominated by pro-settler parties including his own right-wing Likud,had rebuffed calls by Obama and other foreign leaders to extend the partial freeze.