Abul Gheit said he was pleased with the Obama administration’s early position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly its appointment of former Senator George Mitchell to be a special envoy for the peace process.“They understand very well this question, and they know that they will have to exert pressure on two sides to achieve the objective of peace,” Abul Gheit said, adding that he believed the administration would put more pressure on Israel to halt the construction of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.“They say they understand the problem of settlement activity and that it must come to an end,” Abul Gheit said. He declined to remark on prospects for the peace process following Israel’s election this week that could result in a government less willing to engage in peace talks than its predecessor.“Let’s rebuild and reconstruct Gaza through the conference … and then let’s see what George Mitchell, as well as Hillary Clinton, as well as the administration will do in relation to the peace process,” Abul Gheit said.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/635051