U.S. and Israel again at loggerheads over settlements

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The Israeli government's plan to approve more construction in Jewish settlements put it on a collision course with the Obama administration on Friday, threatening U.S. efforts to revive Middle East peace talks.

The White House reacted with dismay to word that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will authorize the building of new settler homes on occupied land before considering a freeze on such construction.

President Barack Obama has been pressuring Netanyahu's right-leaning government to halt settlement building, a major obstacle in the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, so it can announce a resumption of the negotiations.

The Obama administration has been holding out the prospect of a three-way meeting in New York of Obama, Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later this month if there is sufficient progress toward resuming peace efforts.

"We regret the reports of Israel's plans to approve additional settlement construction," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said, calling the activity inconsistent with Israel's commitment under a long-standing peace "road map."

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[LeftishBrit]

1. Wishing good luck to Obama and Mitchell...

Netanyahu is a pain.