Obama agrees to Israel's request to remove East Jerusalem from settlement freeze negotiations

Link

Haaretz, here

" ... According to both Israeli officials and Western diplomats, U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell has recognized the fact that Netanyahu cannot announce a settlement freeze in East Jerusalem. The officials said the U.S. will not endorse new construction there, but would not demand Jerusalem publicly announce a freeze.

Netanyahu also said that Abbas' reported willingness to meet with him was "a positive first step."
Finally, Israel wants the freeze to have a clear "exit plan." In Israel's view, the freeze is a confidence-building measure that must be matched by reciprocal steps from the PA and Arab states. If these fail to materialize, Israel wants an American guarantee that it will not oppose renewed building..."

Posted by G, Z, & or B at 9:56 AM