The White House is expected to announce that U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell is stepping down for personal reasons.
The White House is expected to announce that U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell is stepping down for personal reasons.
The Obama administration's special Mideast envoy, former Sen. George Mitchell, is stepping down after more than two years of trying to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
In a statement Friday, President Obama called the veteran mediator and broker of the Northern Ireland peace accord a "tireless advocate for peace."
"His deep commitment to resolving conflict and advancing democracy has contributed immeasurably to the goal of two states living side by side in peace and security," Obama said.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has asked David Hale, the deputy Middle East envoy, to serve as acting envoy until a replacement is found.
The change comes at a critical time for the Middle East, which is embroiled in turmoil, and the Israel-Palestinian peace process, which has been moribund since last September and is now further complicated by an agreement between Palestinian factions to share power. Obama is expected to deliver a speech next week about his administration's views of developments in the region ahead of a visit to Washington, D.C., by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Since his appointment on Obama's second full day in office in January 2009, Mitchell, 77, has spent much of his time shuttling among Israel, the Palestinians and friendly Arab states in a bid to restart long-stalled peace talks that would create an independent Palestinian state. But in recent months, particularly after the upheaval in Arab countries that ousted longtime U.S. ally and key peace partner Hosni Mubarak from power in Egypt, his activity has slowed markedly.
NPR's Michele Kelemen and Scott Horsley reported from Washington, D.C., for this story, which contains material from The Associated Press.
Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/13/136275775/u-s-mideast-envoy-reportedly-plans-to-resign?ft=1&f=1014
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