Washington, 09 June-(ANA)-US Middle East envoy George Mitchell is visiting Israeli and Palestinian leaders as the US steps up pressure for progress on peace negotiations.
The talks come as Israel-US relations are reported to be tense in the wake of US President Barack Obama's speech reaching out to Muslims last week.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is to give a major address on Sunday, amid pressure to back a two-state solution.
His office said he held positive talks by telephone with Mr Obama on Monday.
Mr Mitchell is also due to meet Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and President Shimon Peres, as well as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, during his two-day visit. (ANA)
Noble Pease Prize/Nagasaki survivor