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Last update - 06:23 09/07/2009
U.S. denies reaching deal with Israel on settlement building
By News Agencies
Tags: Israel News, West Bank, U.S. 

The United States denied Wednesday that it has reached a compromise that would allow Israel to complete the construction of 2,500 housing units in West Bank settlements.

The Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv had reported earlier in the day that said Israel could finish the 700 buildings.

But U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the report was "inaccurate" and that Washington stood by its position that all settlement activity must end.
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"This activity has to stop. This is laid out in the road map" peace plan, Kelly said. "So the reports are inaccurate."

Earlier Wednesday, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the United States and Israel have been trying to find common ground on the sensitive settlement issue, but he had no comment on the front-page report of a deal.

The report followed a briefing by Defense Minister Ehud Barak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his talks in London on Monday with U.S. envoy George Mitchell on ending a rift with Washington over its demand for a settlement freeze.

Western officials said the United States was moving in the direction of making allowances so Israel could finish off at least some existing projects which are close to completion or bound by private contracts that cannot be broken.

"This is a concession to avoid causing undue hardships on individuals" who have signed contracts and have already paid for work that cannot be refunded, one of the officials said, adding that discussions were still under way.

"We're talking about polishing off things that are basically done," the official said.

Israel estimates that the 2,500 units are in the process of being built and cannot be stopped under Israeli law.

A report in the Yedioth Ahronoth daily, Israel's most popular newspaper, was more cautious, saying Israel and the United States were "close to an agreement on settlements". It also cited the same housing figures.

Barak has been seeking a deal with the United States that would include initial steps by Arab states to normalize relations with Israel in return for limiting settlement activity.

Yedioth Ahronoth quoted unidentified cabinet ministers, who attended Barak's briefing, as saying reports a U.S.-Israeli agreement on settlement had been sealed were wishful thinking on the part of the defense chief.

Palestinian leaders have said U.S.-backed peace negotiations with Israel could not resume unless there was a complete halt to settlement activity in the West Bank, Israeli-occupied territory where they hope to establish a state.

While in London, Barak told reporters that he presented to the Americans "the scope of current construction work, which from a practical point of view can't be stopped."

Netanyahu, under U.S. pressure, has pledged not to build new settlements in the West Bank or expropriate more land. Further discussions are planned between Mitchell and Netanyahu as early as next week.

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      1.   Finishing off some existing projects? 12:59  |  Tzfonit 08/07/09
      2.   Obama is in Russia 13:23  |  h 08/07/09
      3.   Well, this proves just one thing: value of Obama`s... 13:35  |  Dutch Dirk 08/07/09
      4.   Israel is not a colony of America 13:37  |  Brod 08/07/09
      5.   business as usual 13:39  |  emilia 08/07/09
      6.   Can Obama build in Texas? 13:41  |  Mikle White 08/07/09
      7.   Settlements Subject to Peace Line 13:58  |  Daniel Garcia. 08/07/09
      8.   Headline: Obama Caves 14:02  |  Giora Me`ir 08/07/09
      9.   More from the Green Light District". 14:04  |  Labhras 08/07/09
      10.   I hope this is not true, no more criminal activities by Isr 14:06  |  ZED 08/07/09
      11.   Joke of the year:" cannot be stopped under Israeli law" 14:07  |  Chanalau, Tova 08/07/09
      12.   If true, this means Obama has stabbed Palestinians in the back 14:08  |  Yesh Prabhu 08/07/09
      13.   Our Land: Our Decision 14:09  |  Yishai Kohen 08/07/09
      14.   What does it mean, "US OKs constuction of homes"? 14:18  |  Jane 08/07/09
      15.   More Hasbara nonsense 14:25  |  No way Jose 08/07/09
      16.   To Tzfonit 14:43  |  rm 08/07/09
      17.   Who believes in this propaganda? 14:50  |  Ahmed 08/07/09
      18.   Did Indians okayUSA`s construction... 15:14  |  Natan 08/07/09
      19.   Then there will be no Peace 15:20  |  Omar Jaweed 08/07/09
      20.   No.1 Finishing off some existing projects? 15:22  |  Shimon Har-Even 08/07/09
      21.   So Obama`s dream dies 15:34  |  Mark Lincoln 08/07/09
      22.   i thought israel is sovrent nation 15:40  |  shmovel 08/07/09
      23.   wait and see 15:42  |  Ernst 08/07/09
      24.   Obama and Netanyahu`s Albatross 15:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 08/07/09
      25.   Our Land: Our Decision 15:56  |  anton 08/07/09
      26.   A little more 16:02  |  WHG 08/07/09
      27.   "private contracts"??? 16:03  |  Mark Marshall 08/07/09
      28.   US ok`s 2500 Israeli settlement homes 16:04  |  Tom Fletcher 08/07/09
      29.   US Okays construction? 16:08  |  rsd 08/07/09
      30.   Yishai Kohen, but the problem is.... 16:17  |  Yaakov Sullivan 08/07/09
      31.   I notice there is now a question mark on the end of the title 16:20  |  Johnboy 08/07/09
      32.   Yishai Kohen #13 16:22  |  Michael 08/07/09
      33.   Regadless OK or no Ok - build !. 16:23  |  Vital 08/07/09
      34.   13# It is not your land!!!! 16:34  |  chucky 08/07/09
      35.   #13 yishai 16:34  |  michael 08/07/09
      36.   #12 Yishai Kohen. Really... 16:37  |  Maureen Ann 08/07/09
      37.   Israel is not the 51st State 16:46  |  Akiva P 08/07/09
      38.   Israel to complete 2500 housing units for Palestinians 16:46  |  Natallie Durson 08/07/09
      39.   Did U.S. okay Israel construction of 2,500 settlement homes? 17:32  |  miro 08/07/09
      40.   Bracha- Moshav Ben-Ami is Palestinian land too 17:51  |  Lanlan 08/07/09
      41.   #6 Mikle White 17:58  |  BDS 08/07/09
      42.   Re: Miro 18:00  |  Brian 08/07/09
      43.   Daniel Garcia # 7 What `67 Border? 18:03  |  Jeff Northridge 08/07/09
      44.   answer to #12 18:08  |  flo 08/07/09
      45.   Israel getting permission.... 18:11  |  A W Lemmond 08/07/09
      46.   Yesh Prabhu # 12 That`s What Happens When You Try To Please Every 18:55  |  Jeff Northridge 08/07/09
      47.   Did U.S. okay Israel construction of 2,500 settlement homes? 18:58  |  Other View 08/07/09
      48.   Obama - just leave Israel alone!! 19:34  |  Adam 08/07/09
      49.   #4 Brod 19:36  |  Janice 08/07/09
      50.   It only takes a few Caterpillars to stop this construction 19:39  |  binny 08/07/09
      51.   Sounds like the end-game 19:42  |  r cummings 08/07/09
      52.   Mikle White - absolutely no comparison 20:02  |  Don Boston 08/07/09
      53.   #4 Brod 20:06  |  Rudy 08/07/09
      54.   OBAMA has finally join the club"OK Setment Corals" 20:08  |  A Frustrated USCitiz 08/07/09
      55.   WHO supervise the "to be completed" buildings? 20:10  |  Sally 08/07/09
      56.   #15. That is right MIRO, but tell me why taking OUR TAX MONEY? 20:14  |  Rufus Robertson 08/07/09
      57.   Who Cares what the US or EU or anybody. 20:17  |  Ron.Waxman 08/07/09
      58.   Israel needs to improve Jerusalem 20:43  |  MMM 08/07/09
      59.   cannot be stooped due to israeli law 20:44  |  tom 08/07/09
      60.   Why does Israel seek US approval to build homes for its citizens? 20:55  |  Susan 08/07/09
      61.   US not qualified to negotiate on behalf of Palestinians 21:00  |  Fed up 08/07/09
      62.   Let the Palestinians live in the settlements 21:08  |  Chris 08/07/09
      63.   #26 Susan. Ever Heard of Building set`ments on OCCUPIED TERRITORY 21:27  |  Cute 08/07/09
      64.   Who are `western` officials? 21:27  |  Colin Wright 08/07/09
      65.   Arab nations can open and close normalization like using a tap. 21:29  |  stella 08/07/09
      66.   Mikle White `Can Obama build in Texas?` 21:30  |  Colin Wright 08/07/09
      67.   US okays Israel construction 21:34  |  Harold 08/07/09
      68.   Where Is This Report Emanating From? 21:39  |  Yaakov Sullivan 08/07/09
      69.   #26 Susan and the answer is... 21:45  |  Mark B. 08/07/09
      70.   To Yaakov #30 `Where is this report emanating from?` 22:02  |  Colin Wright 08/07/09
      71.   To Adam #18 `Obama just leave Israel alone!` 22:07  |  Colin Wright 08/07/09
      72.   I can`t believe Obama will allow building 2500 settlement homes 22:10  |  S 08/07/09
      73.   Obama caves 22:30  |  Mark Lincoln 08/07/09
      74.   #30, you are not logical 22:41  |  Susan 08/07/09
      75.   No 22:46  |  binny 08/07/09
      76.   If it is true, here`s the conditions I would expect. 22:46  |  Stephen L 08/07/09
      77.   US Congress&President signed Balfour= prior commitment 23:49  |  sam 08/07/09
      78.   To Colin Wright: What you wrote makes perfect sense 00:03  |  Yesh Prabhu 09/07/09
      79.   @Brod 00:10  |  Alfred 09/07/09
      80.   #19 Janice answer for you 00:17  |  petra 09/07/09
      81.   MASSIVE JUDGEMENT FOR ANY NATION WHO DIVIDES G-D`S LAND ?? 00:59  |  BILL 09/07/09
      82.   Why not ask the STATE DEPARTMENT? 01:26  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      83.   Israel and Iran have something in common 01:32  |  Capt Ahab 09/07/09
      84.   ColinWrite #32 02:26  |  Mikle White 09/07/09
      85.   #30 It has already been denied, Mark Lincoln 03:12  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      86.   Just another 2500 for now; we will talk later 03:22  |  WHG 09/07/09
      87.   #37 And well you might be sceptical, S 03:34  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      88.   The Should Not Have Been Started Under International Law 03:57  |  Johan Odin 09/07/09
      89.   #41 Thanks Johnboy for your common sense 04:13  |  Hannah 09/07/09
      90.   Bravo Johnboy #41! Apparently Reuters spreads ridiculous news... 04:15  |  S 09/07/09
      91.   Dear Israelites: Your Gov`t is lying to you 04:49  |  binny 09/07/09
      92.   Attempt at Provocation 05:14  |  Iain 09/07/09
      93.   Like making a deal with a bank robber 05:43  |  Natallie Durson 09/07/09
      94.   good 05:49  |  seth 09/07/09
      95.   What can I say 05:50  |  Chet 09/07/09
      96.   Making it Up from Whole Cloth 06:00  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/07/09
      97.   There is zero chance of Israel`s "compromise" being accepted 06:13  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      98.   Stand Firm on Settlements Pres. Obama 06:39  |  Bill 09/07/09
      99.   re Settlements 06:41  |  shlomog 09/07/09
      100.   sovereign state needs US ok? 06:49  |  pinchas 09/07/09
      101.   Mikle White #43 07:24  |  Froy 09/07/09
      102.   Not one single construction should be allowed to continue... 07:46  |  Esther 09/07/09
      103.   About rights and legitimacy. 08:21  |  B. Gold 09/07/09
      104.   Is this a PR ploy? 08:24  |  rm 09/07/09
      105.   Settlement freeze is no big deal at all 09:00  |  binny 09/07/09
      106.   #41 excellent post johnboy! 09:01  |  eric 09/07/09
      107.   #57 you need to revisit the mandate for palestine, b.gold 09:15  |  eric 09/07/09
      108.   #54 I think I have spotted the flaw in your post, pinchas 09:52  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      109.   lol...i`ll wait for the u.s. comeback on this one 09:53  |  eric 09/07/09
      110.   #57 Wrong in the first line, Barach 10:11  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      111.   #62 Those transcripts are always worth a visit, eric 10:24  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      112.   re Sam #60 and `Balfour` 11:24  |  Colin Wright 09/07/09
      113.   Can Israel do as it wants? 11:35  |  Outsider 09/07/09
      114.   #6 Mikle White 12:19  |  CJ 09/07/09
      115.   Yishai Kohen - Your Decision 12:26  |  CJ 09/07/09
      116.   Jane - Israel is not in the International community? 12:39  |  CJ 09/07/09
      117.   Barak doesn`t make sense 12:47  |  Yesh Prabhu 09/07/09
      118.   rsd - permission??? 12:53  |  CJ 09/07/09
      119.   Jimmy Carter says some settlements OK. 13:02  |  Joe Sittizen 09/07/09
      120.   shlomog 13:19  |  CJ 09/07/09
      121.   B. Gold "..bout rights and legitimacy." About sovereign territo 13:31  |  CJ 09/07/09
      122.   to Froy re: after annexing Judea & Samaria 13:50  |  Mikle White 09/07/09
      123.   A modest proposal 14:15  |  Murray 09/07/09
      124.   Has anyone see mr "Jeff What 67 border"Northridge 14:19  |  Labhras 09/07/09
      125.   #43 Jeff, this is very, very simple 16:25  |  Johnboy 09/07/09
      126.   faulty logic 17:29  |  palestinian gurl. 09/07/09
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