The U.S. Mideast envoy is pressing on with efforts to revive Mideast peace talks and extract Israeli concessions on settlements.
The U.S. official, George Mitchell, met behind closed doors on Friday morning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and was later to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.
Mr. Mitchell is trying to pave the way for a meeting next week between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in New York.
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Israeli officials said Mr. Mitchell would also meet Mr. Netanyahu again before the Friday sunset start of the Jewish New Year holiday for another meeting, their fourth this week. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no final arrangement had been worked out.
Mr. Abbas has ruled out talks with Israel until it halts construction in West Bank settlements.