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Ramallah, West Bank (AFP / Reuters) - President of the United States envoy to the Middle East Barack Obama will arrive in the region this week in an effort to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations, said a Palestinian official said Thursday.

Palestia President Mahmoud Abbas told by a U.S. official that George Mitchell would "arrive in the next few hours," said senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat told Reuter.

The United States has urged both sides to immediately conduct indirect negotiations that will help accelerate the resumption of the peace process which was long delayed.

Palestinians say they would not be willing to participate in negotiations unless Israel freeze all settlement construction activity in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas the Jewish state captured in the 1967 war.

"We hope he has the right formula for the resumption of negotiations soon with Israel to stop settlement building activities.

There was no immediate confirmation from Washington about the arrival of Mitchell.