Israeli FM: Netanyahu talks with Obama, Palestinians was victory for firm stand on settlements

September 30th, 2009 Fatah to Abbas: no talks without settlement freezeRAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been told by his Fatah movement that he must not resume peace talks unless Israel freezes its settlement construction, a senior Fatah member said Wednesday. Fatah's position could help Abbas stand up to U.S.

September 24th, 2009 Israel hails US call for talks without conditionsJERUSALEM — Israel's prime minister welcomed Thursday President Barack Obama's call for the resumption of Mideast peace talks without preconditions despite Palestinian demands for a halt to new Jewish settlements in the West Bank before any new negotiations begin. In the past, Obama had said all Israeli building must stop on lands the Palestinians claim for a future state.

September 23rd, 2009 Israeli FM: Summit a victory for settlement standJERUSALEM — Israel's foreign minister said Wednesday that the summit of Israeli, U.S. and Palestinian leaders proved Israel could successfully fend off international pressure to freeze West Bank settlement construction.

September 23rd, 2009 No meetings between Israelis, Palestinians plannedNEW YORK — Israelis and Palestinians said Wednesday that their envoys would meet with U.S. officials but not with each other, cementing the impression that a U.S.-sponsored meeting between their leaders had fallen flat.

September 21st, 2009 Aide: Netanyahu won't bend on settlementsJERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won't bend on his opposition to a settlement freeze when he meets the American and Palestinian leaders in New York, a top aide said Monday. The tough Israeli line could signal trouble for Tuesday's summit, where President Barack Obama is bringing together Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in hopes of relaunching peace talks.

September 17th, 2009 JERUSALEM - Israel will not completely freeze all construction in its West Bank settlements, as the United States and the Palestinians have demanded, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday. "A freeze for me means zero construction.

September 16th, 2009 2nd round of US-Israeli talks over; no progressJERUSALEM — Washington's special envoy to the Mideast and Israel's prime minister ended a second round of talks without reaching a compromise on their showdown over Israeli settlements. U.S. official George Mitchell and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for two hours on Wednesday.

September 16th, 2009 US envoy to press Israel yet again on settlementsJERUSALEM — Washington's special envoy to the Mideast on Wednesday wrapped up his second meeting this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without reaching an agreement on curtailing Israeli settlement construction. U.S. official George Mitchell will sit down with Netanyahu for a third time on Friday, Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

September 15th, 2009 Mitchell to meet with Netanyahu, AbbasJERUSALEM — The Obama administration's special Mideast envoy will be huddling with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, hoping to wring an agreement on Jewish West Bank settlements that would get moribund peace talks back on track. George Mitchell's first meeting on Tuesday will be with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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.

August 26th, 2009 Mitchell, Netanyahu say progress made at talksWASHINGTON — The Obama administration's Mideast peace envoy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say they have "made good progress" at talks aimed at restarting negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. A joint statement from former Sen.

August 25th, 2009 Israeli PM seeks compromise on settlementsLONDON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that he will seek a compromise with the United States that would allow Israel to proceed with some settlement construction while restarting peace talks with the Palestinians. In Europe on a four-day tour, the Israeli leader met Tuesday with his British counterpart, Gordon Brown, as his country faces a firm international front against its settlement policy in the West Bank.

August 25th, 2009 Netanyahu seeks compromise with US on settlementsLONDON — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will seek a compromise in talks with the United States that would allow Israel to proceed with some settlement construction while restarting peace talks with the Palestinians. Israel's leader is on a four-day European tour and will meet his British counterpart Tuesday.

August 18th, 2009 Obama: Encouraged on Israel, Palestinian prospectsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Tuesday he is encouraged by progress in U.S. efforts to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table, thanking his Egyptian counterpart for help in working for a breakthrough.

June 16th, 2009 Obama welcomes Israeli prime minister's speechWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's endorsement of Palestinian independence, saying the development shows the "possibility we can restart serious talks." Bending to U.S. pressure in a speech a day earlier, Netanyahu backed down on decades of opposition to Palestinian statehood by endorsing an independent state beside Israel.