'New dynamics' in Mideast peace possible: Solana

(BEIRUT) - The stagnant Middle East peace process could see "new dynamics" in coming weeks, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said after meeting with Lebanese officials on Tuesday.

"We discussed... the possibility of putting new dynamics on the peace process as well as the possibility of having some important activities and important initiatives during the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations," which is to convene in New York in late September, Solana told reporters in Beirut.

Solana said in Israel on Monday that a summit between US, Israeli and Palestinian leaders to relaunch the dormant peace process could take place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

"I spoke to the prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu)... I got the clear sentiment that there is a possibility to get to an agreement before the beginning of the General Assembly that will allow us to resume negotiations," he said.

US White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also said on Monday that the United States would be "quite happy" if Israel and the Palestinians were to make progress on reviving peace efforts at the UN General Assembly.

Solana has also met with Palestinian officials and visited Syria as part of a regional tour to explore ways of reviving the peace process and travels next to Egypt.

On Monday he also said that Israel may agree to a settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank by mid-September and was discussing the technical aspects of a deal with the United States.

Israeli officials have been engaged in intensive talks with President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell as Washington presses its close ally to halt settlement activity in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.