Israel's Lieberman wants new ideas on Palestinians

JERUSALEM - Israel's foreign minister says at his first meeting with the U.S. Mideast envoy that his country needs to find a new approach to making peace with Palestinians, the latest sign that the new hard-line Israeli government and Washington are diverging on how to reach a settlement.

President Barack Obama's Mideast envoy George Mitchell, speaking at the meeting Thursday with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, reiterated Washington's solid support for creating an independent Palestinian state. That idea has been the guiding principle of U.S.-backed peace efforts in recent years.

Lieberman made waves after taking office last month, saying the past year of U.S.-led negotiations was no longer relevant and concessions to Palestinians invite war.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)