Israeli: Differences with US over settlements led government to postpone Mitchell meeting

Israel: settlement issue prompted US meeting delay

PARIS — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Paris for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, as differences with the United States over settlements emerged as a key issue.

An Israeli official says his government postponed a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Washington’s top Mideast envoy because it wanted more time to iron out differences over settlements.

The meeting with former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell was to have taken place in Paris where Netanyahu arrived Wednesday. Netanyahu aides said Defense Minister Ehud Barak would instead meet Mitchell next week in Washington.

A senior official traveling with Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel sought “more professional work” before the meeting. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the U.S.-Israel discussions were confidential, said settlement construction was one of those issues. Israel insists “natural growth” of existing Jewish communities in the West Bank must be allowed.