Special envoy George Mitchell met today for a second time with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Government officials reported that the meeting thus far between Mitchell and Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen did not produce any desired results.

"There is no doubt that the representatives are all toeing the hard line right now, and it isn't clear whether any compromises have been reached," said a senior official in an interview with the Israeli media.

Netanyahu asked Mitchell for the United States to join Israel in requesting that Abu Mazen be present for a tripartite summit meeting with President Obama, without any preconditions. Mitchell, on his part, was interesting in hearing from Netanyahu more details about he steps he has taken towards implementing a settlement construction freeze.

While the press has been reporting that some measure of progress has been made during the meetings held between Mitchell and Netanyahu, the differences of opinion between Israel and America are still causing the Palestinians to decline the invitation for a three-way summit meeting in New York.

The main point of contention is the issue of the settlement freeze. Abu Mazen demands a total halt of all construction in Yehuda and Shomron, as well as in Jerusalem. Netanyahu will not agree to such radical terms. The time frame for the freeze is also a point of debate. The Americans are asking for a year, and Netanyahu refuses.

It is not clear whether the meeting today will be the last between Netanyahu and Mitchell, before the special envoy flies back to America. Mitchell is determined to get results, and set the foundation for the tripartite meeting during week of the U.N. General Assembly. Mitchell may decide to extend his visit for several more days.