Mitchell: Determined to stay the course for negotiations

In a speech delivered yesterday at Colby College in Maine, Special Envoy George Mitchell (a former senator from Maine) said that despite setbacks, the Obama administration is still deeply committed to peace negotiations for Israel and the Palestinians.

Ha'aretz reports:

He said also no president other than Barack Obama has taken action so early in his administration to start peace talks in the region in which the conflicts have deep and historic roots.

"There's a sense of urgency, a sense of involvement and commitment on the part of the president."

He said the process has been in motion only for months. His experience in Northern Ireland from 1995 to 1999 suggests that the current peacemaking effort could take years.

"I am not in the slightest discouraged," said the 76-year-old Mitchell.

His speech follows news of Secretary of State Clinton's report to President Obama on the status of peace-making efforts in the Middle East, saying it is still a work in progress. Despite challenges, Mitchell remains optimistic.

Mitchell said he and Clinton plan to attend a conference in Morocco on Nov. 2 where they will meet with foreign ministers from most or all of the Arab countries.

"The secretary of state has been directly and personally and actively involved in the process," said Mitchell, adding that he completed a round of meetings this week with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators where some good progress was made.