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Clock Ticking, US Scrambles to Save Mideast Talks

Israelis already celebrating end of settlement slowdown

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 26, 2010 1:50 PM CDT

(Newser) – With Palestinians threatening to walk away from Mideast peace talks, officials in Washington are scrambling to rescue the negotiations just hours before a slowdown on West Bank settlement construction expires. "They are talking. Intense efforts are ongoing," said one anonymous official. PM Benjamin Netanyahu has called for "restraint" as the slowdown expires.

Israeli settlers are already celebrating the demise of the 10-month-old sanctions, reports the AP, breaking ground on a new daycare center and proclaiming their readiness to start building 2,000 new apartments in the disputed territory.

A bulldozer works in a construction site in the Jewish settlement of Adam outside Jerusalem, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
A bulldozer works in a construction site in the Jewish settlement of Adam outside Jerusalem, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.   (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)
Jewish settlers hang Israeli flags during a cornerstone laying ceremony for a daycare center in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Kiryat Netafim, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
Jewish settlers hang Israeli flags during a cornerstone laying ceremony for a daycare center in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Kiryat Netafim, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.   (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A Jewish man holds signs during a rally in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Revava, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
A Jewish man holds signs during a rally in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Revava, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.   (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
A construction worker is seen in a housing project in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
A construction worker is seen in a housing project in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.   (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Piles of building materials are placed on the ground at a construction site for a housing project in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
Piles of building materials are placed on the ground at a construction site for a housing project in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.   (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Israeli activists wave flags as they call for the continuation of the construction slowdown in the West Bank settlements, during a protest outside Israel's Prime Ministerial residence, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010.
Israeli activists wave flags as they call for the continuation of the construction slowdown in the West Bank settlements, during a protest outside Israel's Prime Ministerial residence, Sunday, Sept. 26,...   (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
tikks
Sep 26, 2010 9:53 PM CDT
Abbas said he would come to the negotiating table without preconditions. Israel gave a 10 month hiatus in order to help peace talks come along, but Abbas waits 9 months of the 10 and then whines that time is up? No honest person can state that the issue is the Israelis building a kindergarten for their children. If Abbas were serious he would have come to the table 9 months ago
Timinator2K
Sep 26, 2010 9:11 PM CDT
Like it matters.
OWLWOMANXXXX
Sep 26, 2010 7:34 PM CDT
a daycare center in the middle of a potential warzone....are they hiding behind their babies?
World • US

 
Israel • Benjamin Netanyahu • West Bank • Israel and Palestinians • Palestinians • Mideast peace • peace talks • Palestinian statehood • Mideast peace talks • settlements • West Bank settlements

 
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