"This is a matter of logistics. He had a schedule change in Washington. He had some consultations for today that he needed to attend," the official said.
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The postponement comes amid a diplomatic row that erupted when Israel announced plans to build 1,600 new settler homes
Mitchell is likely to return to the region following a meeting of the diplomatic Quartet for the Middle East peace process -- the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States -- in Moscow on March 19, the official added.
The postponement comes amid a growing diplomatic crisis that erupted last week when Israel announced plans to build 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in annexed Arab east Jerusalem during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden.
It also coincides with an eruption of unrest across east Jerusalem over the Israeli settlement plans and the reopening of a 17th century synagogue near the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The Palestinian rage against Israel's dedication of reopening a synagogue close to al- Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem flared on Tuesday, where clashes erupted in the disputed holy city and demonstrations dominated the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Witnesses and medical sources in East Jerusalem said that fierce clashes erupted Tuesday between dozens of Arab protestors and Israeli police forces, adding that the protestors threw stones at the police, and the police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
The witnesses said that Israeli police forces stormed the town of al-Aisaweyeh in East Jerusalem and fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets during clashes with Palestinian stones hurlers, who set fire to car tyres in the town.
Medics said that more than 50 Palestinians were hurt in the clashes.
They said that clashes between Arab demonstrators and Israeli police erupted also in the refugee camp of Shu'fat, as well as in the Old City of Jerusalem. Israeli police still closed the gates leading to al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented worshippers from approaching the mosque.
A Muslim foundation defending holy cites in Jerusalem warned that the consecration of Hurva synagogue, which was restored on Monday, endangered al-Aqsa Mosque, which is situated just a few hundred meters away.
Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967 and later annexed, are considered by international community as Israeli settlements and one of the main obstacles to Israeli- Palestinian peace process.
Israel deems Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, while the Palestinians want the east section of the holy city as capital of their future state.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) warned on Tuesday in a press statement of the current Israeli measures in Jerusalem, saying "such measures will not only affect the security and stability in Israel and the Palestinians, but also in the region and the rest of the world."
The PLO accused Israel "of trying to drag the whole world into a religious war by reopening the Hurva synagogue just a few hundred meters near the al-Aqsa Mosque," adding that "restoring the synagogue is an introduction to building their (Jewish) third temple on the ruins of the mosque."
Meanwhile, Hatem Abdul Qader, Fatah's representative in Jerusalem, said in a press statement sent to reporters that dedicating the synagogue near al-Aqsa Mosque will blow up more violence in the Palestinian territories and the entire region.
Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians, including schoolchildren, university students and leaders of Islamic Hamas movement and other factions demonstrated on Tuesday in Gaza to protest against the Israeli measures in Jerusalem.
The demonstrators marched the streets of Gaza city, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the Israeli measures in the area of al-Aqsa Mosque in the old city of Jerusalem.
Ahmed Bahar, deputy speaker of the Hamas-dominant parliament, addressed the crowds near the destroyed parliament building in the city, and called for escalating armed attacks against Israel.
He called on the defense ministers of the Arab states "to take up their responsibilities and send their warplanes and armies to rescue al-Aqsa Mosque and end the Jewish policy of judaizing Jerusalem."
The Hamas leader accused the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank of preventing the "Mujahidin (holy fighters)" from carrying out attacks against Israel and liberate Jerusalem.
He also called on the Arab Summit that will convene in Libya on March 27 to call off their approval of the United States proposal to resume proximity talks with Israel for four months.
Rabah Muhana, a senior leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), said in a press statement on Tuesday that the Palestinians are called "to escalate armed resistance against the Israeli measures in the old city and against the expansion of Jewish settlements."
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri said in a press statement sent to Xinhua that "the Israeli measures in Jerusalem have violated all the red lines," adding that "Israel plays with fire by executing its plans to destroy al-Aqsa Mosque, and it will be responsible for the upcoming consequences."
Palestinian school-girls chant slogans during a rally against Israel's consecration of a synagogue in Jerusalem's Old City, in Gaza City on March 16, 2010
Palestinian youths chant slogans during a rally against Israel's consecration of a synagogue in Jerusalem's Old City, in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza strip on March 16, 2010.
Palestinians attend a rally against Israel's consecration of a synagogue in Jerusalem's Old City, in Gaza City on March 16, 2010
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