Palestinian official: US Mideast envoy ends shuttle without deal on terms for new peace talks

Palestinian official: US envoy ends shuttle

RAMALLAH, West Bank — A Palestinian official says the U.S. Mideast envoy has ended his latest shuttle without agreement on terms for renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Envoy George Mitchell had hoped to lay the groundwork for such a meeting next week in New York, perhaps also attended by President Barack Obama.

But chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says the Palestinians are sticking to their demand for a total halt to Israeli settlement activity before talks can take place.

Erekat says Mitchell’s weeklong trip to Mideast is ending “without agreement.”

Mitchell met on Friday with both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israeli officials had no immediate comment on Erekat’s statement.