Israel Downplays Mitchell’s TV Remarks through ‘Anonymous’ US Official (Al Manar TV)

Following the U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell’s remark in a television interview that Washington has the right to delay aid to Israel, a senior American official told Yedioth Aharonoth’s Internet site Ynet that this ‘was not a threat and not an implied threat' to the zionist state.

 
The ‘senior’ official, whom Ynet did not name, told the Israeli website that the remarks were a ‘response to an interviewer's question on the American administration's options if Israel refused to resume peace talks with the Palestinians.’
 
Mitchell had earlier clarified in an interview to PBS' "Charlie Rose" show that the United States would use incentives or sanctions against both sides. According to American law, Mitchell said, the US can freeze its support for aid to Israel.
Mitchell noted in the interview that all options must remain open and that the sides must be convinced about what their important interests are. He said some progress had been made and that his country would continue its efforts to resume the negotiations.
The US envoy also addressed the expected timetable, saying that "we think the negotiation should last no more than two years, once begun we think it can be done within that period of time. We hope the parties agree. Personally I think it can be done in a shorter period of time."

Al Manar TV