According to officials in the Prime Minister’s Office, US Mideast envoy George Mitchell will not be visiting in August to monitor efforts to jumpstart peace efforts between the PA (Palestinian Authority) and Israel, explaining the harsh Mideast summer heat is too much for Mitchell, who will be vacationing in Maine instead. That said, the statement reads that members of Mitchell’s team will remain in area to monitor developments.

In a somewhat related matter, Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Thursday wrapped up a US visit, meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Barak reportedly spoke with the senior American administration official about pressuring PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) into agreeing to enter into direct talks with Israel now, as suggested by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

According to a Channel 10 News report on Thursday, Barak is working to advance diplomatic efforts on the Syrian track, involving his senior advisors in such efforts, including Uri Saguy, a former chief of military intelligence and a retired IDF major-general. Officials in the Defense Minister deny such efforts are taking place.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)