Tel Aviv, 16 April-(ANA)-US President Barack Obama's envoy to the Middle East is in Israel for his first talks with the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The envoy, George Mitchell, has said the creation of a Palestinian state is the only way to resolve the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Mr Netanyahu, of the right-wing Likud party, has not endorsed the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Mr Mitchell is also to meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank.
Mr Mitchell is to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu, who leads a right-leaning coalition combining the centre-right, centre-left and far-right parties.
Mr Netanyahu has said the economy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank should be improved before progress on creating a Palestinian state is attempted.
He has said he intends to resume talks and co-operation to promote "economic peace".
Israel committed itself in 2003 to the establishment of a Palestinian state under the "roadmap" peace plan. (ANA)
