US Mideast envoy George Mitchell is scheduled to arrive in Jerusalem on Wednesday for a first round of high-level meetings including President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak. Mitchell is also expected to meet with Mossad Director Meir Dagan and ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) Director Yuval Diskin.

Mitchell’s timing is one that carries most feel is significant, the first visit of the new American administration as well as taking place immediately following the Gaza War. In addition, it now comes a day following the deadly Hamas ceasefire violation, the bomb attack at Kissufim.

Opponents view the visit as a blatant American attempt to influence the outcome of the general elections for a new prime minister and the 18th Knesset, scheduled for Feb. 10th.

In either case, Mitchell can be expected to begin applying pressure on Israel to make additional concessions to the PA (Palestinian Authority) as he has done in the past in his official capacity in former American administrations.

Mitchell began his Mideast visit on Tuesday in Cairo, meeting with President Hosni Mubarak and other senior state leaders. He told reporters that there is no such thing as a conflict that does not have a solution.

After meeting in Israel and the PA, Mitchell is make a stop in Jordan and then Saudi Arabia, after which he will head back to Washington.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)