George Mitchell postpones Israel visit

Updated: 16:58, Tuesday, 16 March 2010

US envoy George Mitchell has put off a visit to Israel, as a row deepens over Israel's decision to build more Jewish homes in Arab East Jerusalem.

1 of 1 George Mitchell Had been due to meet Israeli President
George Mitchell
Had been due to meet Israeli President

Mr Mitchell had been due to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres today.

As tension remains high in Jerusalem, dozens of Palestinians clashed today with Israeli police in the east of the city today.

Hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli security forces in the worst rioting in years as a senior Hamas leader called for a new 'intifada', or uprising.

Mussa Abu Marzuk told Al-Jazeera television: 'The intifada must enjoy the participation of all of Palestinian society.

'Every Palestinian should rise up... against the forces of the (Israeli) occupation.'

Meanwhile US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today that the US and Israel have a 'close, unshakable bond' and that Washington remained absolutely committed to Israeli security.

'We have an absolute commitment to Israel's security. We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel,' she said.

Her comments were markedly soft after several days of sharp diplomatic exchanges over Israel's announcement of new settlement construction.

Live Player

  • watch live

    Nationwide

  • Next
  • 13:00 - 13:45

    RTÉ Radio - News at One (Studio Webcam)

  • 13:05 - 13:15

    RTÉ News and Weather

  • Later
  • 17:45 - 18:00

    Nuacht RTÉ

  • 18:01 - 18:35

    RTÉ News: Six One and Weather

News Quiz