Diplomatic efforts are underway to resume Middle East peace talks, which were collapsed during Gaza war last year. US middle East Envoy George Mitchell, who has arrived in the region on a visit on Sunday, will hold talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.<br/><br/>UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon visited Gaza on Sunday and during the visit, he criticised Israel for blockade of the Gaza Strip saying ‘it caused unacceptable sufferings to human beings in the enclave.’ Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also reaching USA today where he is expected to meet US president Barrack Obama on 24th march to discuss the issue.<br/><br/>Earlier members of the Middle East peace Quartet at a meeting in Moscow on 19th of this month called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity in Palestinian areas. Israel rejected the call and Prime Minister Netanyahu said that all Israeli governments have maintained the same policy on building in East Jerusalem.<br/><br/>Meanwhile tensions are running high in Palestinian areas on this issue and four Palestinians have lost their lives in the clashes in past three days.<br/><br/>The issue has become a major roadblock in resumption of dialogue, as Palestinians are demanding a complete freeze on these constructions in West Bank and East Jerusalem.