Bethlehem - Ma'an - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu desires peace in the region, according to US President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy, George Michell, who met with the Israeli leader on Friday in Jerusalem.

During their meeting, Mitchell insisted that both he and the Israeli prime minister shared the "common objective of a comprehensive peace in the region," according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. "As always I look forward to our discussions."

For his part, Netanyahu said he appreciated Mitchell and Obama's efforts, and that he was looking forward to talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday, after which he vowed to "try to re-launch the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians as soon as possible."

In Palestine, however, local sentiment remained skeptical, particularly following last week's violent clashes at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, sparked by increased Israeli military presence in the occupied city.

Chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat has called on the US to demand that Israel end incitement against worshipers there as well as halt settlements, which he said were intended to sabotage substantive talks.

"[T]he Israeli government is looking for an escape clause to avoid meaningful negotiations," he said, urging Israel not to let extremists set the agenda. "These are not the actions of a partner for peace."

According to Erekat, an "immediate freeze on Israel's ongoing settlement construction and Palestinian home demolitions is essential to restarting negotiations."

Last week, President Mahmoud Abbas told Obama in a telephone call that any future peace talks would have to "lead to the creation of an independent Palestinian state as well the [halt] of all settlement activities" if the Palestinians were expected to participate.

Mitchell arrived in Israel on Thursday night, where he was scheduled to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and several Palestinian leaders.

"These meetings will build on the intensive work the Administration has engaged in with both sides since the trilateral meeting last month," the US Consulate in Jerusalem said in a statement.

As for Clinton, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley noted that "challenges remain as we continue to work with both sides," according to Reuters. "Her visit reflects the administration's commitment - and her personal commitment - to work through the challenges we face in pursuit of comprehensive Middle East peace."

The talks were suspended last December when Israel launched an assault on the Gaza Strip that killed more than 1,400 Palestinians.

Obama has sought to restart negotiations but has failed thus far, in part because Israel refuses to comply with international calls that it halt the construction of settlements in occupied territory.