Egypt says Israeli settlement freeze must include east Jerusalem

September 23rd, 2009 Israeli FM: US meeting proof firm stand paid offJERUSALEM — Israel's foreign minister says a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian and American leaders was a victory for Israel because it took place even though Israel refused demands to freeze settlement in the West Bank. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio Wednesday that the government "kept its promises to the voter" and showed it is not necessary to "surrender and give in." Israel agreed only to slow settlement construction in the Palestinian territory for a limited time.

September 4th, 2009 Moussa: no to settlement freeze without JerusalemCERNOBBIO, Italy — The Arab League chief says any Israeli offer for a settlement freeze that doesn't include east Jerusalem is unacceptable and "will suspend the peace process." Amr Moussa spoke Friday at a conference on Italy's Lake Como. Moussa said a freeze of settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to make their capital, is a precondition for any meaningful talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

September 3rd, 2009 Aide: Israeli PM considering settlement freezeJERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will approve hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements before slowing settlement construction, two of his aides said Friday, in an apparent snub of Washington's public demand for a total settlement freeze. At the same time, however, Netanyahu would be willing to consider suspending construction on most of the lands Palestinians claim for a future state for several months, the aides said.

August 31st, 2009 EU: Fresh Mideast talks could be announced soonJERUSALEM — A top European Union official said Monday that renewal of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks could be announced in late September. The EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he expected a plan to reopen negotiations to emerge with the opening of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept.

August 23rd, 2009 JERUSALEM - Four days before travelling to London for a meeting with American envoy George Mitchell, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has told his inner cabinet that "significant progress" has been made on negotiations with the US over a settlement freeze. According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu and his special emissary Yitzhak Molcho, briefed Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor and Bennie Begin about the latest round of talks in Washington.o details of the discussions were released.

August 17th, 2009 Republican Huckabee supports Israeli settlementsJERUSALEM — The U.S. has taken too harsh a stance against Israel on the issue of settlements, hindering peace negotiations, former Arkansas governor and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee said during a visit to Israel on Monday.

July 28th, 2009 Netanyahu, US envoy try to resolve settlement spatJERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell are trying to resolve a public dispute over Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

July 27th, 2009 Report: Israeli settler population crosses 300,000JERUSALEM — An Israeli paper is reporting that the number of Jewish settlers in the West Bank is now over 300,000. The daily Haaretz says the number of West Bank settlers is 304,569 — a 2.3 percent increase since January.

July 19th, 2009 Israel told to halt east Jerusalem housing projectJERUSALEM — The U.S. has demanded that Israel suspend a planned housing project in east Jerusalem, senior Israeli officials said Sunday — the latest sign of a deepening conflict between the two allies over Israeli settlements.

July 19th, 2009 JERUSALEM - The US has asked Israel to halt a construction project in occupied East Jerusalem and summoned Israel's Ambassador to Washington Michael Oren for clarification, Israel Radio reported Sunday. The issue is the latest in an ongoing dispute over Israeli construction in the occupied territories.

July 19th, 2009 Netanyahu: Israel can build anywhere in JerusalemJERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel can build anywhere in Jerusalem — a position likely to complicate an unusually tense standoff with the U.S. over settlement construction.

June 30th, 2009 JERUSALEM - Knesset member Otniel Schneller has termed the US demand for a settlement freeze as "extortion", which could impede Israeli readiness for peace. The Jerusalem Post quoted Schneller, as saying that Obama administration officials were holding beliefs shaped by "far-Left opinions outside of the Israeli consensus." Schneller, who has been involved in peace deals with the Palestinians and Jordan since 1994, wrote a letter to Defense Minister Ehud Barak ahead of his US visit.

June 24th, 2009 PARIS - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday downplayed growing tensions with US President Barack Obama over Israeli settlements, saying it was just a spat between friends. "We have an unbreakable bond of friendship with the US," Netanyahu said in Paris after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

June 9th, 2009 Itinerary announced for Carter's Middle East tripATLANTA — Former President Jimmy Carter's latest Mideast peacemaking trip will include a visit with the father of a captive Israeli soldier and a tour of a West Bank settlement. Carter is visiting Syria, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in his effort to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

April 27th, 2009 Abbas demands Israel halt building settlementsRAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a tough speech on peace-making with Israel, saying there's no way he'll resume negotiations without an Israeli settlement freeze. Abbas also said Monday that Israel is defined by the borders it had before the 1967 Mideast War and "not one centimeter more." In 1967, Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem — territories the Palestinians seek for their state.