Progress and a positive atmosphere were reported Tuesday morning following a meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Middle East envoy George Mitchell of the United States. The two-and-a-half-hour meeting was intended to reduce tensions between the two countries in the wake of US pressure on Israel to freeze Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. Other regional subjects were discussed as well, based on Mitchell's visits to Syria, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. The two agreed to meet again next month.
Area residents raised 11 outposts Monday and Tuesday in protest of the pressure. Two of the outposts were torn down by security forces. A crowd estimated between 1,000 and 2,000 people demonstrated in front of the American consulate in Jerusalem against the American stance.