Israeli President Shimon Peres told visiting U.S. envoy George Mitchell today that Jerusalem is committed to reaching a Middle East settlement with creation of a sovereign Palestinian state but security must be a central focus of these talks.<br/><br/>According to Israeli media Haaretz, during their meeting, Peres told Mitchell that Israel placed security at the top of the agenda for the upcoming talks considering the increase in rocket fire following Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. <br/><br/>Mitchell is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Earlier he met Israeli prime minister twice in two days.<br/><br/>Mitchell arrived in the region earlier this week for the launch of the first indirect peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.