Netanyahu, Clinton, Abbas and Mitchell
Netanyahu, Clinton, Abbas and MitchellIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The American-mediated talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt got off to a rocky start Tuesday morning but concluded in the early afternoon without any disruptions. More talks are scheduled in Jerusalem and Ramallah Wednesday, but there is a chance for another meeting Tuesday afternoon before Israeli leaders return home.

U.S. envoy George Mitchell kept up an optimistic tone after the three-way discussions between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and American officials U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mitchell.

He said that both Israel and the PA are making efforts to advance the "diplomatic process." Regarding the building freeze that Abbas wants extended, Mitchell said it would be helpful if Israel accepts the demand but that both sides will have to decide on how to work out the disagreement.

He added, "We know that this is a politically sensitive issue in Israel and we believe both sides have a responsibility “ to see that the talks advance "in a constructive manner." Mitchell specifically called for a "Jewish democratic State of Israel" but added that "the parties will have to resolve the issues themselves." 

Abbas  has refused to accept Israel’s insistence that he recognize Israel as a Jewish State. Prime Minister Netanyahu told the Cabinet Sunday morning that he hears the expression” two states but not ”two peoples.”

Al Jazeera said the dispute before the meeting concerned differences between Israeli and PA negotiators. It did not specify the issue of contention, but Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu have been at odds over the PA demand for an extension of the 10-month moratorium on building new homes for Jews in Judea and Samaria.

Israeli officials denied that the delay was due to a disagreement, but it was reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu was incensed over PA officials' threats to walk out of the discussions if their demands were not met.

The day began with Prime Minister Netanyahu talking with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak before sitting down with Clinton, prior to the three-way meeting with Abbas. Clinton placed Israel at a disadvantage before she arrived, telling reporters on her plane en route to Egypt that Israel should extend the freeze.

Israel caved in to American pressure last November when it instituted the freeze, the condition that Abbas imposed before he would agree to sit down with Israel for talks on establishing the PA as a country. However, he continued to avoid direct discussions, saying that the freeze was not total.

Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said last week that Abbas’ time "has run out” and there is no reason to give him another chance.