WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – U.S. Senator and Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell on Tuesday said that the U.S. will play an “active and sustained role in the [peace] process” between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week invited President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority and Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu to Washington, D.C. on September 2nd to begin direct negotiations to settle all issues between the two states. Senator Mitchell reaffirmed the Obama administration’s confidence that the negotiations could be completed within one year.

Senator Mitchell said that the White House and the U.S. government has had the same position on Israeli settlements outside the green line and recognizes that it is illegal under international law, and noted that discussions continue between both sides to reach an agreement concerning settlement preconditions that were requested by the Palestinian Authority. He stood by his belief that Middle East peace was possible and that findings show that over 80 percent of Arabs polled are open to a two-state solution and that 39 percent of those polled believe that if a two-state solution were to come about, it would happen through negotiations.

He said that while the U.S. will have an “active and sustained role” in the peace process, the U.S. will not always be physically represented in every single meeting. He said that the U.S., in fact, encourages that the two leaders meet bilaterally on a regular basis. The Senator also clarified that the U.S. will not stand aside and not participate and that “We will operate in a manner that is reasonable and sensible in the circumstances which exist, but the guiding principle will be an active and sustained United States presence.”

He noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu has publically and privately stated that he hopes to meet with President Abbas around every two weeks, and that the U.S. supports this approach. “We want to establish this process going forward and to maintain it in an intense way at several levels of engagement.”

The Senator mentioned Hamas, reiterating the policy Secretary of State Clinton has said, saying that Hamas and all relevant parties are allowed to engage in the discussion once they agree to comply with the tenants of democracy and nonviolence. He dismissed allegations that he is holding a double standard by having negotiated with the IRA in North Ireland during the political tensions in that region, saying that the situation was very different in both timing and circumstance.

President Obama will be taking a very active role in the negotiations, according to the Senator. He said that the President has been active in the peace process from the very beginning and will continue to stay involved in the process. He noted, however, that his involvement will not always be public but President Obama places a high priority on comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Finally, the Senator said that the peace process was realistic and it can be done despite skepticism. “[…] What it really comes down to in the end is what is best for the people of Israel and what is best for the Palestinian people.” He said that he believes that a strong and convincing argument can be made for peace and must be made by the U.S. and others that seek a peaceful resolution that results in the creation of a “viable, democratic, contiguous Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel”.

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