Ross on secret mission as Mitchell continues talks

Dubai: A desperate US administration has sent a second envoy to the region where he held secret talks in Israel to re-jumpstart the peace talks while its original envoy was holding public meetings with Palestinian and Arab officials.

Veteran US diplomat Dennis Ross is holding "secret" talks with top Israeli military officials over Iran and Tel Aviv's security needs once a final agreement with the Palestinians is reached, sources confirmed to Gulf News.

Ross's visit, which some Israeli reports said started late Tuesday, coincides with Washington's efforts to revive the peace process, and with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meeting with representatives of the Arab League late on Wednesday in Cairo over the future of peace talks with Israel, after the US put forward a "new form" of negotiations to re-launch the deadlocked talks.

"Ross's talks with top Israeli military and security officials aim to have a clear picture of Israeli security needs in case of reaching a final status agreement with the Palestinians," a source in Occupied Jerusalem confirmed to Gulf News.

The Israelis are talking to Ross in his capacity as the Middle East special envoy for the US president, the source continued.

"Iran is also on the agenda," the source, who asked not to be identified, added.

Israel has been nervous about the controversial Iranian nuclear programme, and has been advocating a strike against it. However, the western powers, including the US, have preferred giving diplomacy a chance before resorting to the military option.