Hillary's Wrong: Bush, Israel Agreed on Settlements

PM appeasing government's extreme right, writes Christopher Hitchens

(NEWSER) - Benjamin Netanyahu is a hostage to the extreme right of Israel’s government, and the Obama administration is trying to appease him—a decision the US “will come to regret.” The US offer of “ security incentives and fighter jets ” following a proposed temporary freeze in settlement-building makes Christopher Hitchens wonder: Why does America “acquiesce so wretchedly in its own disgrace at the hands of a virtual client state?” 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»

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»

Palestine not happy with latest announcement

(AP) - Israel's interior minister gave final authorization to build 1,600 apartments in disputed east Jerusalem and will approve 2,700 more in days, officials say, detailing a plan that could complicate diplomatic efforts to dissuade Palestinians from declaring statehood at the United Nations. The announcement drew immediate criticism from the Palestinians, and from Israel's leading anti-settlement group, which accused the government of seizing on mass protests over housing costs to give economic justification to the always explosive issue of building in the holy city. More»

Official gives details of proposed deal

(NEWSER) - Despite the angry-sounding words recently exchanged between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over planned Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to push for a new settlement freeze. Under the proposed deal, Netanyahu will ask his cabinet to freeze construction for just 90 more days so that Palestine will resume peace talks. Once a peace agreement is signed, the US will give Israel a $3 billion package of security incentives and fighter jets, the New York Times reports. More»