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Israeli, Palestinian negotiators to meet US officials in Washington

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Israeli and Palestinian envoys are expected to hold separate talks in Washington this week with US officials including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as part of Washington’s bid to revive peace negotiations, the State Department said Monday. US State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley said Israeli envoy Yitzhak Molcho and Palestinian Saeb Erakat ‘will come to Washington to meet separately with US officials as part of our ongoing consultations with the parties at the working level to achieve a framework agreement on all core issues.’ Crowley added that the two envoys will not meet with each other, but that US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is likely to speak to both of them.

Dennis Ross traveled to Israel at the end of last week, as part of the effort to prepare the way for upcoming meetings scheduled in Washington. Ross’s visit to Israel was his second in three weeks. According to a Maariv report, during Ross’s visit Defence Minister Ehud Barak sought to open back channel negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly held reservations, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the notion. The Defence Ministry denies that back channel negotiations were explored.