Differences over colonies postpone Netanyahu-Mitchell meeting

Paris: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived in Paris for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

However, differences with the United States over colonies led to a postponement of a meeting between Netanyahu and Middle East ambassador George Mitchell, an official said.

The Israeli official said his government postponed the meeting because it wanted more time to iron out differences over the colonies.

The meeting with Mitchell was to have taken place in Paris where Netanyahu arrived on Wednesday.

Aides said Defence Minister Ehud Barak would instead meet Mitchell next week in Washington.