‘‘We are disappointed but we remain focused on our long-term objective and will be talking to the parties about the implications of the Israeli decision,’’ State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said, adding that Mitchell would ‘‘sort through with the parties where we go from here.’’
The comments came after Israel defied US and international demands to extend a 10-month slowdown on settlement construction in the West Bank, raising the prospect of the Palestinians abandoning the Mideast peace talks in protest. The slowdown expired on Sunday and the Palestinians had been threatening to walk out of recently launched face-to-face talks if it was not extended.
Crowley said the US position in support of extending the slowdown on settlements remained unchanged and praised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for not immediately walking out of negotiations.
‘‘In our discussions with both sides over the weekend, we encouraged restraint whatever decision was made on the Israeli side and the Palestinian response so far reflects that restraint,’’ Crowley said. ‘‘We had called upon both sides to be constructive in the actions that they take from this point forward and certainly the restraint at this point is appreciated.’’
In a later briefing for reporters, Crowley said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had received a call Monday from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to follow up on their earlier conversations on the settlements issue. Crowley declined to reveal the substance of the phone call.
Mitchell departs Monday evening and will hold meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials beginning on Tuesday. The specific schedule is still being worked out, Crowley said.
Crowley said the US is still focused on promoting negotiations on a ‘‘two-state solution’’ in which an independent Palestinian state exists beside a secure Israel. Crowley encouraged ‘‘constructive actions’’ toward reaching that goal.
‘‘We believe if we can successfully get by this turbulence that we are experiencing now, there is absolutely an opportunity for a successful negotiation,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of 87 US Senators — nearly the entire membership of the Senate — sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to press both sides to stay in the talks, which began early this month.
‘‘Neither side should make threats to leave just as the talks are getting started,’’ they wrote.
Source: AP