George Mitchell, the top US envoy to the Middle East, said on Sunday that he aimed to finalise a deal with Israel on a freeze of Jewish construction in occupied Palestinian territory this week to help revive peace talks.
Mr Mitchell, who spoke following a meeting in Jerusalem with Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, said: “While we have not yet reached agreement on many outstanding issues, we are working hard to do so, and indeed the purpose of my visit here this week is an attempt to do so.”
