Even if the PA agrees that some settlement blocs will remain in Israeli hands in a future agreement, Abbas cannot agree to a continuation of construction during direct talks, says a senior source.
A senior European official expressed skepticism about the resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian talks in Washington and stressed the influence of the Jewish lobby in the US.
Heading into a White House dinner Wednesday evening with President Obama and the Jordanian and Egyptian leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas outlined their bottom lines: security and recognition for the Jewish state, settlement halts and final-status negotiations for Abbas.
Pope Benedict XVI Thursday called for a Middle East peace agreement that is respectful of the legitimate aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians, during a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Ahead of start of direct peace talks in Washington, Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Jerusalem's Arab neighborhoods will be part of a Palestinian state; a 'special regime' to govern holy sites.
A settlers' umbrella group has announced that it will unilaterally end the West Bank construction moratorium in response to the terrorist attack near Hebron.
