Israel to Propose Settlement Deal to Washington

West Bank building plans do not help peace talks with Palestinians

(NEWSER) - The road to Arab-Israeli peace could take yet another detour, the New York Times says, after Israel announced plans today to seek funding for the expansion of two Jewish settlements in areas Palestinians hope to claim for a future state. The two sides are expected to meet tomorrow, but Palestine’s chief negotiator warned the talks would have “no meaning” if Israel moves forward with its plans. More»

Obama should take 'non-priority issue' off the table, writes ex-PM

(NEWSER) - It's fine for Barack Obama to make overtures to the Arab world, but Ehud Olmert, reminding him in a Washington Post op-ed that Israel is "the only real Middle Eastern democracy," complains that he has focused too much of his attentions on Israel's settlements in the West Bank. Olmert says the two-state solution agreed to by George W. Bush—with whom his administration had "deep and candid understandings, both written and oral"—and codified in Annapolis, set out clear limits to Israeli settlements, but did not halt all future building. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama’s insistence that Israel stop building or expanding West Bank settlements is “dishonorable and self-defeating,” writes Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post. Hillary Clinton’s call to end “natural growth” expansions is especially ridiculous. “Is the peace process moribund because a teacher in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem is making an addition to her house to accommodate new grandchildren?” More»

Palestine condemns move

(NEWSER) - In a move sure to ratchet up Israeli-Palestinian tension even further, Israel gave the OK today to construct 1,100 new housing units in east Jerusalem. Israel’s Interior Ministry says construction can begin after 60 days, a period that is mandatory for comments from the public but largely a formality, the AP reports. While the Palestinians say east Jerusalem is their future capital, and have called for a halt to all settlement construction there, Israel says the area is a part of its own capital, an undivided Jerusalem. More»

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton met separately with the Palestinian president and prime minister in the West Bank today, after sitting down with Israeli leaders yesterday, and announcing the appointment of two senior envoys to Syria. Palestinian leaders implored Clinton to push for a freeze on expanding Israeli West Bank settlements, and open borders for Gaza. As the new occupants of the White House reconfigure the US approach to the Middle East, they believe Syria could be the key to the puzzle, the New York Times reports. More»