Mitchell is Obama's Mideast envoy

The appointment of George Mitchell as Middle East envoy is an indication that Barack Obama is turning to experience and proven ability to push forward the stalled peace process.

The 75-year-old former senator won plaudits for his role in helping broker the Good Friday Agreement in the North, being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

His appointment is unlikely to signify any shift in policy but it does show that Mr Obama wants to “bring out the big guns”, according to one foreign policy expert.

Note will probably be made of his part-Lebanese descent – Mr Mitchell’s mother emigrated to the United States as a teenager.

But it is for his experience in conflict resolution that he has been chosen.

Under the Clinton administration he served as Northern Ireland envoy. In that role he steered the peace process through the difficulties of weapons decommissioning towards the eventual agreement.

He was noted for his patience and ability as a negotiator during his involvement in the North.

Mr Mitchell’s appointment today is not his first involvement in the Middle East peace process.

In 2001, he led a Middle East peace commission in the last days of the Clinton administration.

The subsequent report called for an Israeli settlement freeze and tougher Palestinian anti-terrorism measures from the Palestinian Authority.

Mike O’Hanlon, foreign policy expert at respected think tank Brookings Institution, said Mr Mitchell’s appointment – alongside that of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state – showed that Mr Obama was prepared to “bring out the big guns” to force through the peace process.

But he said it did not signify any shift in stance either towards Israel or the Palestinians.

Mr O’Hanlon said: “I wouldn’t read a whole lot of policy into this decision.

“He (Mr Mitchell) is somewhat experienced in peace negotiations in general. He does have the ability to work with people, he has patience and he has resolve.”