U.S. Envoy George Mitchell Travels To Middle East

U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell travels to the region today to urge the Palestinians and Israelis to restart indirect talks.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon carried a similar message during a visit to the region on March 20 that included a visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Ban told Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad that the Mideast Quartet "strongly supports" Palestinian efforts to establish their own state.

A day earlier, Ban, speaking for the Mideast Quartet meeting in Moscow, made a similar call on Israel to freeze new construction in East Jerusalem. He said the holy city should be the capital for both Israel and a future Palestinian state.

The Palestinian leadership has said Israel's plan to build new housing in the disputed area is an obstacle to resuming peace talks.