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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing journalists in Paris on Wednesday.
 (AP)
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Last update - 11:35 25/06/2009
Netanyahu trying to reach deal on settlements with U.S.
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

PARIS - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is continuing with efforts to advance compromise formulas that will win support in the Obama administration on the issue of settlement construction. Ahead of the visit to Washington by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Netanyahu is planning to propose that increased construction in the settlements be allowed for "natural growth."

This is the latest idea in addition to the possibility of a temporary hiatus in construction, as reported yesterday by Haaretz.

During his tour of Europe, Netanyahu has so far heard criticism on the issue of the settlements from leaders considered "friends" - starting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and yesterday from French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
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"I am your friend and therefore I am speaking honestly," Sarkozy told Netanyahu during their meeting at the Elysee Palace. "You must conduct confidence building measures and the first must be the absolute freeze on construction in the settlements."

Netanyahu and his aides are trying to formulate a compromise solution that will appeal to the U.S. administration. The proposal that the prime minister is now considering, which Ariel Sharon had previously put forward, is to carry out a "territorial freeze" to settlement activity. In other words, the settlements will not expand onto more territory in an effort to meet the growing needs of settler population without leading to new "facts on the ground," which would stand as an obstacle to the creation of a future Palestinian state.

Under this proposal, the only new structures in settlements would be for public functions, like kindergartens or schools.

"It is possible to resolve the territorial aspect of settlement construction," Netanyahu said yesterday following his meeting with Sarkozy. "It is possible to find a formula but this requires good will of all sides. What is important is to enable people to live normal lives and that is what I am explaining to the Americans."

However, sources close to Netanyahu have said that they are uncertain whether the Americans will make do with a "territorial freeze" or whether the Obama administration will insist on a "demographic freeze" as well.

Another option that was reported yesterday in Haaretz is a "temporary freeze" of settlement construction, except for projects that have already begun.

"The main consideration is how long the freeze will remain in place and whether this may be a precedent that will transform the temporary hiatus into a permanent one," a source close to Netanyahu said.

Following consultations between Netanyahu and Barak, a planned meeting with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell in Paris was postponed until after Barak returns from Washington.

The Defense Minister is hoping to put forth a package deal with the Obama administration that will incorporate the recent easing of travel restrictions for the Palestinians.

"If we have significant progress in talks with the Palestinians, the issue of the settlements will become less central," Barak said.

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      1.   How to render peace impossible 03:15  |  Mark Lincoln 25/06/09
      2.   The sky will not fall 03:41  |  Bazmann 25/06/09
      3.   Empower the Palestinians 03:48  |  SMF 25/06/09
      4.   natural growth newspeak for lebenstraum 03:49  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 25/06/09
      5.   Remove Settlements 03:51  |  Ben Cohen 25/06/09
      6.   Tough Guy! 03:52  |  Cool B 25/06/09
      7.   This is approaching absurdity 04:00  |  Alfred 25/06/09
      8.   Just like..... 04:11  |  Mr Man 25/06/09
      9.   Israel is not a Banana Republic 04:15  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 25/06/09
      10.   Mr. Cheltanham High 04:17  |  R Howe 25/06/09
      11.   Obama`s Dilemma 04:59  |  Paul Mayer 25/06/09
      12.   #2 hey Rabbi: Then stop behaving like one 05:02  |  jake 25/06/09
      13.   yakov lazaros 2 05:17  |  potobac 25/06/09
      14.   delusional 05:17  |  E 25/06/09
      15.   # 2, SORRY, RABI LAZAROS 05:26  |  Ed 25/06/09
      16.   Make the Deal - with Abbas 05:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/09
      17.   What rubbish, coming from a so-called rabbi ... 05:43  |  Ben Watts 25/06/09
      18.   Netanyahu has a bad track record when it comes to peace 05:54  |  Harold 25/06/09
      19.   Cool B. 05:57  |  Harold 25/06/09
      20.   Settlements 06:00  |  Rob Weissmann 25/06/09
      21.   Rabbi Yakov 06:00  |  Harold 25/06/09
      22.   The Road Map specifically states " settlement activities" 06:02  |  Smadar 25/06/09
      23.   My Dear Rabbi, 06:37  |  Friend 25/06/09
      24.   FRUSTRATING......... 06:51  |  FK 25/06/09
      25.   Why Why Why 06:55  |  JJ 25/06/09
      26.   IMAGINE : Natural growth for all countries 06:57  |  FK 25/06/09
      27.   04:15 | Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 25/06/09 07:03  |  Muskens 25/06/09
      28.   Netanyahu`s Diplomatic Bankruptcy 07:16  |  Torrance 25/06/09
      29.   Sarkozy correct. Settlements are cancer of the Middle East 07:17  |  Ivar 25/06/09
      30.   Freeze 07:27  |  John 25/06/09
      31.   Man, THAT`S FUNNY!!! 07:30  |  Johnboy 25/06/09
      32.   This travesty called "natural growth"... 07:44  |  Esther 25/06/09
      33.   Let the settlers perform their "natural growth"... 07:52  |  Esther 25/06/09
      34.   Netanyahu is following John Bolton’s advice 07:53  |  Mladen Andrijasevic 25/06/09
      35.   Obama regards "settlements" as a critical obstacle to peace?. 08:17  |  Lane 25/06/09
      36.   Alfred #7, you just don`t understand ... 08:17  |  Esther 25/06/09
      37.   Deal has been made 09:31  |  Iain 25/06/09
      38.   Natural growth is unatural 09:42  |  Paul A 25/06/09
      39.   How to grow... 09:45  |  Anne 25/06/09
      40.   Maybe Netanyahu needs a translator 09:48  |  Kilminster 25/06/09
      41.   # 2 bazmann 10:37  |  Axel 25/06/09
      42.   Something for something? What a novelty! 10:38  |  Natallie Durson 25/06/09
      43.   Netanyahu 11:49  |  Iletzter 25/06/09
      44.   Oye, Kilminster #22, Bibi is a wizard in English as well... 12:08  |  Esther 25/06/09
      45.   So what hapens AFTER Bibi wins? 12:09  |  question_asker 25/06/09
      46.   No illegal `natural growth`. 12:45  |  Matty Groves 25/06/09
      47.   congress has changed sides 13:07  |  SD 25/06/09
      48.   OK, SMF, how about it? 13:36  |  Murray 25/06/09
      49.   Dear Rabbi 13:38  |  Murray 25/06/09
      50.   The deal is simple, just STOP NOW 14:33  |  Joe W 25/06/09
      51.   DISGUSTING INTERFERENCE IN JEWISH STATES AFFAIRS ?? 15:05  |  BILL 25/06/09
      52.   No illegal `natural growth`. 15:05  |  Matty Groves 25/06/09
      53.   Agree to disagree 16:05  |  Zev 25/06/09
      54.   Bibi, this is no real estate deal. IT`S NOT OUR LAND. 16:08  |  Tzfonit 25/06/09
      55.   Building Vertically ok, Horizontally its a no 16:09  |  Charlis 25/06/09
      56.   Disgusting to use The Bible... 16:11  |  Anne 25/06/09
      57.   #34 Tzfonit good post & not following Road Map obligations... 17:14  |  Smadar 25/06/09
      58.   which is more than can be said of the pals right now 17:21  |  jj 25/06/09
      59.   Settlement Growth 17:30  |  Jim 25/06/09
      60.   bibi is smart 17:58  |  michael 25/06/09
      61.   "don`t forget arafat died of aids" - (by michael #40) 18:40  |  yona 25/06/09
      62.   Bill; Israel needs no help from the US......... 18:55  |  Deacon2 25/06/09
      63.   Not trying at all more like it... 18:57  |  Tcherkessi 25/06/09
      64.   thief MIGHT stop stealing for 6 months 19:01  |  Dolphin 25/06/09
      65.   Deal 19:11  |  John 25/06/09
      66.   There must be a permanent freeze until final border is determined 19:36  |  Johan Odin 25/06/09
      67.   Settlements are Jewish refuge camps 19:37  |  Dean Blake 25/06/09
      68.   #9 Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 20:12  |  Jim 25/06/09
      69.   Settlements 20:16  |  Manny Adame 25/06/09
      70.   #10 R. Howe 20:22  |  Jim 25/06/09
      71.   #12 Friend Yes we have no bananas! 20:51  |  Jim 25/06/09
      72.   #22 Kilminster 21:01  |  Jim 25/06/09
      73.   #24 Esther 21:06  |  Jim 25/06/09
      74.   John Bolton 20:58  |  Enough 26/06/09
      75.   Haggling??? Has it really come to this? 07:29  |  American 27/06/09
      76.   here is a joke doing the rounds on Internet ! 17:53  |  Tony Silver 27/06/09
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