U.S.-Israel negotiations on renewed settlement freeze fail

2010-12-08 10:32:03 GMT+7 (ICT)

JERUSALEM (BNO NEWS) -- Israel on Tuesday announced that the negotiations with the U.S. on renewing the settlement moratorium freeze failed and reached an end, local media reported.

Israel informed that the talks between the two nations reached a dead end and both sides will now look for new ways to advance the Middle East process. The negotiations sought the renewal of the moratorium on West Bank settlement construction in exchange for an American letter of guarantees.

The United States also confirmed the end of the negotiations to try and achieve another settlement freeze moratorium. The failed talks are a major step back in the Middle east process that was halted after Israel resumed constructing in the occupied West Bank in September.

The U.S.-Israel negotiations were stopped briefly in the wake of the WikiLeaks crisis and the increasing tensions in the Korean peninsula between North Korea and South Korea. The U.S. would now seek a deal on security and border issues instead.

"We have not reached understanding with the United States on how to resume the construction freeze," Defense Minister Ehud Barak said. "The negotiations with the Palestinians are of utmost priority for Israel and we must aspire to make them happen."

The U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly proposed a deal to Israel which included a series of incentives in exchange for extending the settlement freeze moratorium. State Secretary Hillary Clinton also held a series of meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with no avail.

"The process has not stopped. We obviously recognize that, we face a difficult obstacle, and we will continue to engage the parties on the way forward," said U.S. State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-08

No surprise there. How long until the US government completely backs off and agrees to more building as a way to "kick start the peace process" or some other old tosh.

Lets see how long.....

No surprise there. How long until the US government completely backs off and agrees to more building as a way to "kick start the peace process" or some other old tosh.

Lets see how long.....

Be sure and keep your WikiLeaks line open so you will be the first to know.

No surprise there. How long until the US government completely backs off and agrees to more building as a way to "kick start the peace process" or some other old tosh.

Lets see how long.....

Be sure and keep your WikiLeaks line open so you will be the first to know.

Oh I would fully expect this one to come form the mainstream media as it is inline with government policy