Ms. Clinton said Obama has invited Egyptian President Mubarak and
Jordan's King Abdullah to the White House as well, Middle East Newsline reported. She said Obama would meet
with the Middle East leaders both together and separately.
Officials said the White House, particularly Obama's envoy George
Mitchell, would press for the complete Israeli withdrawal from the West
Bank, with the option of a minor exchange of territory with the PA. They
said Israel has formally agreed to the talks and its parameters while the PA
was expected to relay its consent over the next few days. On Aug. 21, the PA
was said to have accepted the U.S. invitation.
"All permanent status issues will be on the table," Mitchell said. "It
will be for the parties themselves to decide the manner by which they should
be addressed."
Mitchell said the talks would begin without preconditions. But he said
the United States would object to any Jewish construction in the West Bank
and in areas of Jerusalem captured in the 1967 war. Netanyahu has pledged to
resume Jewish construction when Israel's 10-month unilateral freeze expires
on Sept. 26.
"Let's be clear that the declaration of the moratorium itself last
November was a significant action, which has had a significant effect on new
housing construction starts in the West Bank," Mitchell said. "And as I
said, our position on settlements is well-known, remains unchanged, and we
expect both parties to promote an environment conducive to negotiations."
Officials said Obama would play a major role in the direct talks. They
said the president would press both Israel and the PA to reach a solution by
late 2011 for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"The engagement and involvement of the United States is going to stay
strong and sustained and at a high level," White House counter-terrorism
adviser John Brennan said. "And the president's engagement and involvement
in the future in these talks will be determined by developments as we go
forward."
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