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October 7, 2008 3:57:54 PM CDT

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Israel Won't Freeze Settlement Activity

Posted Dec 27, 07 2:04 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – Israel-Palestine negotiations hit a stumbling block today as Israeli PM Ehud Olmert rejected Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas' call for an end to all settlement activity, Reuters reports. The impasse has been exacerbated by Israel's announcement of new plans to construct hundreds of houses near East Jerusalem, the proposed site of Palestine's future capital.

After the leaders' first meeting since last month's Annapolis talks, Olmert's spokesman said, "We won't agree with the Palestinians on every issue on day one." The dispute hinges on whether Israel will halt all settlement activities or only new construction. For the time being, Israel has adopted the latter attitude. A Hamas spokesman said Olmert's refusal highlights "the pointlessness of the negotiations."

Source Reuters

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A Palestinian herder walks with his son past a construction site of new housing units in the Israeli neighborhood of Har Homa in the eastern part of Jerusalem, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Israeli Prime...   (Associated Press)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday ruled out cease-fire talks with Hamas, calling Israel's...   (Associated Press)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks during a traffic safety conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are...   (Associated Press)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert speaks during a traffic safety conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are expected to meet Thursday...   (Associated Press)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is seen during a meeting with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah,not seen, as part of Christmas festivities in the West Bank city of Bethlehem,...   (Associated Press)
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Israel  • Palestine  • Ehud Olmert  • Mahmoud Abbas  • Gaza Strip  • settlement  • Annapolis summit  • negotiations


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