Report: Netanyahu promised Kerry to put ‘hold’ on settlement construction

Published on May 7, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that he would put a hold on construction in West Bank settlements until mid-June.

Netanyahu says he would put peace deal to referendum

Published on May 2, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he would put any peace deal with the Palestinians to a referendum, raising expectations that direct negotiations might soon resume following a two-year stalemate.

Murder of Jewish settler sparks West Bank clashes

Published on May 1, 2013

Israeli settlers and Palestinians clashed in the West Bank more than a day after the murder of a Jewish man by a Palestinian attacker.

April 12, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on April 12, 2013

Three Answers to Three Questions on Yesterday’s Post

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on April 4, 2013

Why Israel Isn’t More Thrilled About the Death of the ‘Settlement Freeze’

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on April 3, 2013

In Ramallah, Obama implies settlement freeze not needed

Published on March 21, 2013

President Obama implied during a news conference in Ramallah that a settlement freeze should not be a precondition for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

June 17, 2012

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on June 17, 2012

Israel’s Cabinet to discuss legalizing Ulpana outpost

Published on May 10, 2012

Israel's Cabinet will meet in a special session to discuss legalizing the Ulpana outpost in the West Bank, despite a Supreme Court ruling calling for its demolition.

Decisions in the interregnum in Palestine and Israel

Published on March 19, 2012

The year 2011 will go down in history as the year when the two-state solution went into deep freeze. Yet even during this hibernation there is much that can, and indeed must, be done to prevent an even graver crisis.

Palestinians unmoved as Israel presents border ideas

Published on January 27, 2012

Israel has presented Palestinians with its ideas for the borders and security arrangements of a future Palestinian state, in a bid to keep exploratory talks alive, Palestinian and Israeli sources said on Friday.

Panetta urges Israel, Palestinians to negotiate

Published on October 3, 2011

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Monday called for "bold action" from Israeli and Palestinian leaders to achieve peace after cautioning that Israel was becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East.

Netanyahu rejects widespread criticism of homes plan

Published on September 28, 2011

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected Western and Arab complaints that the planned construction of 1,100 new homes in Gilo on annexed land close to Jerusalem would complicate Middle East peace efforts.

Opinion: Moral dimension of Palestinian statehood

By Judea Pearl
Published on September 27, 2011

I felt terribly guilty when Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the U.N. General Assembly: “Enough! It is time for the Palestinian people to gain their freedom and independence.” How can we deny to others what we claim for ourselves?

U.S., EU condemn Israeli plan to expand settlement

Published on September 27, 2011

Israel approved on Tuesday the construction of 1,100 settlement homes on annexed land in the West Bank, complicating global efforts to renew peace talks and defuse a crisis over a Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.

US against settlement halt as precondition for talks

Published on September 27, 2011

The U.S. ambassador to Israel reaffirmed on Tuesday Washington's opposition to a Palestinian call to halt Israeli settlement building before peace negotiations can resume.

Abbas says no talks without Israeli settlement freeze

Published on September 25, 2011

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas repeated on Sunday his refusal to talk with Israel without a settlement freeze after international mediators, responding to his United Nations bid for statehood, urged negotiations within a month.

Netanyahu: Israel was ready to extend freeze

Published on January 3, 2011

Israel was prepared to extend a West Bank construction freeze, but the United States withdrew the idea, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Barak: Final status talks within months

Published on December 14, 2010

After meeting with U.S. leaders, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak predicted that comprehensive talks with the Palestinians on all final status issues would begin within months.

Livni says Israel should freeze settlement building

Published on December 13, 2010

Israel should have instituted a second settlement building freeze in exchange for U.S. guarantees, Israeli opposition leader Tzipi Livni said on ABC News.

U.S. quits effort on settlement freeze

Published on December 7, 2010

The Obama administration reportedly has abandoned efforts to have Israel freeze its settlements.

Israeli attorney general orders E. Jerusalem building sealed

Published on November 17, 2010

Israel's attorney general has ordered Jerusalem officials to seal off a seven-story Jewish building in eastern Jerusalem.

Netanyahu’s office: Clinton talks did not include E. Jerusalem

Published on November 17, 2010

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's discussions with the Obama administration for a new freeze on settlement building did not include extending the freeze to eastern Jerusalem, his office said.

Netanyahu updates Cabinet on U.S. settlement freeze proposal

Published on November 14, 2010

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present to his Cabinet an American proposal to convince Israel to again freeze settlement construction in an effort to resume peace talks with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu trying to convince top ministers to extend settlement freeze

Published on October 4, 2010

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his forum of top ministers on Tuesday afternoon to debate extending Israel's moratorium on construction in West Bank settlements for 60 days.

Bibi pushing quiet diplomacy in bid to restart talks

Published on October 4, 2010

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is "in the midst of sensitive diplomatic contacts with the U.S. administration" in the effort to continue peace talks with the Palestinians.

Sides work to save Mideast peace talks as freeze expires

Published on September 26, 2010

Israel allowed a politically charged freeze on Jewish settlement building in the West Bank to expire on Sunday, but the Palestinians did not carry out a threat to quit peace negotiations, setting the stage for further frantic efforts to keep the talks alive.

Barely months into talks, will the freeze freeze a peace deal?

Published on September 21, 2010

When the fat lady sings on Sept. 26, it may only be an intermission.

Ill-advised settlement freeze weakened Israel strategically

Published on September 21, 2010

On Sunday, Sept. 26, we will celebrate the end of the ill-advised building moratorium in the Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).

Netanyahu hints settlement freeze unlikely

Published on September 20, 2010

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a top aide suggested that a compromise with the Palestinians on a settlement freeze is not in the offing.

U.S. reportedly pushing three-month freeze extension

Published on September 16, 2010

The Obama administration reportedly suggested that Israel extend its current settlement freeze for three months, which Israel appears to have rejected.

Abbas says he will not compromise

Published on September 7, 2010

Mahmoud Abbas said he will not compromise during peace negotiations on core issues such as final borders and the status of Jerusalem.

Palestinians will leave peace talks over freeze

Published on August 23, 2010

The Palestinians will withdraw from peace talks with Israel if construction in the settlements resumes, Mahmoud Abbas told the Mideast Quartet.

Zionist Congress calls for settlement freeze

Published on June 17, 2010

The World Zionist Congress passed a resolution endorsing a two-state solution and a West Bank settlement freeze.

How About an Arab ‘Settlement’ Freeze?

Published on March 18, 2010

When she is surrounded by a swirl of conversation she cannot understand, my two-year-old granddaughter turns to me expectantly: "What they talking about, Bubbe?" Right now, I would have to confess to her that the hubbub over 1,600 new housing units in Jerusalem defies rational explanation.

Ehud Barak: Settlement freeze is a national necessity

Published on September 8, 2009

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday called a freeze in West Bank settlements a 'national necessity,' a day after he approved building permits for nearly 500 new housing units in six separate blocs.