Netanyahu envoy departs for U.S. to negotiate settlement freeze

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's envoy to negotiations with the Obama administration will depart on Sunday for meetings with U.S. officials in an attempt to negotiate a possible future settlement freeze.

Yitzhak Molcho is expected to meet with White House officials and with the staff of U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell, preparing the ground for a meeting between Netanyahu and Mitchell that is due to take place on August 26 in London.

Molcho's trip will focus on efforts to bridge the gaps in the Israeli and American stances in regards to future settlement construction.

Israel is reportedly willing to agree to a six-month settlement freeze, but the Americans are interested in a halt to all settlement construction for at least one year.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1107841.html