JERUSALEM, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering seeking either cabinet or governmental approval for a 10-month freeze in West Bank settlement construction, local daily Ha'aretz reported Tuesday on its website.
Citing a senior Israeli official in Jerusalem, the report said the move, in a bid to relaunch stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, would include a commitment to a series of limitations and restrictions on West Bank settlement building, but would not halt construction in east Jerusalem.
Israeli officials hope that the official declaration of a settlement freeze would enable the renewal of the negotiations with the Palestinian National Authority, which has refused to engage in peace talks until Israel freezes settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The peace talks have been suspended since Israeli army's Operation Cast Lead last winter in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu has updated the Obama administration as to his position on the settlement freeze, said the report, noting that the U.S has demanded the move for a long time over the past year and that it was not immediately clear whether Washington has accepted Netanyahu's stance.
It was also not clear what the U.S. position was on the exclusion from the freeze of east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians wish to make the capital of a future state, added the report.
Israel's settlement expansion in Jerusalem is illegal: EU
STOCKHOLM, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) expressed its dismay on Wednesday for Israel's decision on the expansion of the settlement of Gilo in East Jerusalem.
"The presidency recalls that settlement activities, house demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem are illegal under international law," Sweden, which is current rotating presidency of the EU, said a statement.Full story
UN chief deplores Israel's decision to expand settlement in East Jerusalem
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday deplored Israel's decision to expand Gilo settlement, built on Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war, a statement issued by his spokesperson said.
Reiterating his opposition that "settlements are illegal," Ban called on Israel to respect its commitments under the Road Map to cease all settlement activity, including natural growth.Full story
Obama meet Netanyahu on stalled peace process
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and visiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting in the White House Monday night, in an attempt to re-launch the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
The two leaders discussed security cooperation on a range of issues and also discussed "Iran and how to move forward on Middle East peace," said a White House statement, adding that Obama reaffirmed "strong commitment to Israel's security." Full story
Netanyahu, Mitchell fail to reach agreement on settlement freeze: report
JERUSALEM, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell failed to reach an agreement on settlement freeze, local news service Ynet cited a source in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as reporting Friday.
The remarks of the source came shortly after the fourth meeting this week between Netanyahu and Mitchell on Friday afternoon. Mitchell will leave Israel for the United States later Friday. Full story
Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts
