Quds, Palestine, September 15, SPA -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US envoy George Mitchell apparently failed Tuesday to finalize an agreement on a temporary halt of Israeli construction in Israeli West Bank settlements, but agreed to continue discussions on Wednesday, dpa reported. Washington hopes an agreement on a settlement freeze will allow President Barak Obama to host a triple summit with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York later this month - and relaunch peace negotiations. "We hope to bring this phase of our discussion to an early conclusion and to move forward to our common search for comprehensive peace in the region," Mitchell said before his talks with Netanyahu got underway. Obama has demanded that Israel halt completely all settlement construction in the West Bank. Netanyahu replied that Israel would build no more new settlements, but would continue construction inside existing ones, to accommodate population expansion, so-called natural growth. Abbas has endorsed the US demand, and has said suspended peace talks with Israel will not be renewed unless Israel complies. -- SPA
