Israel settlement offer ‘unprecedented’: Clinton

October 31st, 2009 JERUSALEM/RAMALLAH - Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak called Saturday on the US and Palestinians to "make an effort to start negotiations" and added that an impasse in the dialogue would only benefit Hamas. Ahead of the arrival of US Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barak said that a "a dead end in the diplomatic process will only serve Hamas and the other extremist elements in the region." "It's essential that all the sides make an effort to start negotiations; this is a unique opportunity," he added in the statement after knowing that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to start peace negotiations today in a meeting with Clinton in Abu Dhabi.

October 31st, 2009 more images more images Clinton calls Israeli concessions "unprecedented" JERUSALEM — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday that Israel is making "unprecedented" concessions on West Bank settlement construction — a position clearly at odds with the prevailing Palestinian view.

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 7th, 2009 Israel approves 366 new West Bank apartmentsJERUSALEM — Israel has officially approved construction of 366 new apartments in the West Bank. Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Monday that he intends to soon approve about 84 more.

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: Netanyahu considering settlement freezeJERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be willing to consider suspending construction in the West Bank for several months — but first plans to authorize hundreds of new apartments there, an aide said Friday. The U.S. has been pressing Israel to agree to a settlement freeze, and the Palestinians have said they would not resume peace talks unless Israel suspends construction on lands they want for a future state.

August 17th, 2009 Clinton sees Mubarak ahead of White House talksWASHINGTON — The Obama administration is hopeful that groundwork can be laid soon to allow the resumption of stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, the State Department said Monday. "We're trying to work hard to create conditions for negotiation to continue and we hope to have this phase of this process completed in the next few weeks," spokesman P.J.

August 1st, 2009 JERUSALEM - Rejecting the Obama administration's call to resume peace talks with Israel, Saudi Arabia has said that its relations will not improve with the Jewish state unless it withdraws from all occupied Palestinian territories. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, that his country could not consider steps suggested by US Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell, as Israel was not interested in a deal.

July 2nd, 2009 JERUSALEM - Congressman Robert Wexler, a close political ally of US President Barack Obama and a big Israel supporter, has said that Israel would lose nothing, and potentially gain everything, by agreeing to a temporary moratorium on construction in the settlements for a short period of time. Wexler on his third visit to Israel since December met with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, a day after Defense Minister Ehud Barak and US Middle East envoy George Mitchell met in New York and decided that the discussion over settlement construction would continue.

June 26th, 2009 Mideast Quartet urges Israel to halt settlementsTRIESTE, Italy — The Quartet of Mideast negotiators has called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity and to lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip. The Quartet — the United States, Russia, United Nations and European Union — met Friday on the sidelines of a meeting of the Group of Eight foreign ministers, who made a similar call for Mideast peace.

June 17th, 2009 US, Israel still butting heads on settlementsWASHINGTON — The Obama administration and Israel gave no ground Wednesday in their opposing views over Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory despite speculation the two sides might be nearing compromise. After talks in Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman held to long-standing positions ahead of a meeting next week between U.S.

June 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama said Monday there was some "positive movement" towards peace after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recognised the Palestinians' right to an independent state. But Obama made clear he would not back down from his demand that Israel stop all settlement activity, a key disagreement that remains between the two long-time allies.

June 6th, 2009 JERUSALEM - Israel will eventually have no other option but to accept a two-state solution because the United States will not give up on this issue, according to Israel Radio. sraeli officials said if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu agrees to adopt the road map peace plan, he will prevent the Obama Administration from pressuring Israel to accept the establishment of a Palestinian state under other circumstances.

May 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has urged Israel to freeze Jewish settlement activities in the West Bank, reiterating Washington's support for establishing a Palestinian state. After meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the White House Thursday, Obama told reporters that Israel "must meet obligations" to halt Jewish settlement activities in the West Bank, and that Israel would recognise the two-state solution in its security interests.

January 22nd, 2009 JERUSALEM - Israel is interested in continuing the peace process with the Palestinians, caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told newly sworn-in US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Thursday, according to his office. Israel would also make every effort to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the people of the Gaza Strip following Israel's military offensive there, Olmert told Clinton in a telephone call.