Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in his office in Jerusalem Nov. 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Ariel Jerozolimski) Photo Gallery>>>

Israel's freeze on settlements in the West Bank helpful: U.S.

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary R. Clinton on Wednesday welcomed Israel's announcement to start a 10-month West Bank settlement freeze to revive peace talks with Palestinians.

    "Today's announcement by the government of Israel helps move forward toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Clinton said in a statement released by the State Department. Full story

PNA rejects Netanyahu's offer to resume peace talks

    RAMALLAH, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nabil Abu Rdeineh, spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, announced on Wednesday that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) rejected getting back to peace talks without a complete cessation of settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Full story