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Last update - 17:18 27/08/2009
U.S. drops demand for Israel building freeze in East Jerusalem
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

BERLIN - The Obama administration has agreed to Israel's request to remove East Jerusalem from negotiations on the impending settlement freeze.

According to both Israeli officials and Western diplomats, U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell has recognized the fact that Prime Minister Benjamin 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 presented a proposal on Wednesday for resolving the ongoing Israeli-American dispute over construction in the settlements. In a meeting with Mitchell, Netanyahu suggested a temporary freeze, reportedly for nine months, on construction in the West Bank, a government source said.
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Netanyahu also said that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' reported willingness to meet with him was "a positive first step."

The Americans are slated to respond to Netanyahu's proposal at a meeting in Washington next week between Mitchell and two Israeli officials: Netanyahu's envoy, attorney Yitzhak Molcho, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak's chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Mike Herzog.

Mitchell himself will return to Jerusalem in the second week of September with the goal of finalizing an agreement.

The new Israeli proposal will exclude some 2,500 housing units on which construction has already started.

Additionally, in special cases where it is necessary to keep "normal life," Netanyahu wants to be able to erect public buildings in the settlements - mainly kindergartens and schools.

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.

Following their meeting, Mitchell and Netanyahu issued a brief joint statement saying that "good progress" had been made, and the talks would continue.

However, the statement also included that the two "agreed on the importance of restarting meaningful negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians and working toward a comprehensive peace, and that all sides need to take concrete steps toward peace."

At his press conference, Netanyahu reiterated that good progress had been made at the meeting, but said some issues remained unresolved. The goal, he said, is "to strike a balance" that would meet the settlers' basic needs while also enabling peace talks to resume.

Responding to Palestinian reports that Abbas had expressed willingness to meet with him at next month's UN General Assembly session in New York, Netanyahu said that if Abbas "is behind this declaration, that would be progress. This is a positive thing, a positive first step."

Until now, Abbas has refused to meet with him unless he first imposes a total freeze on settlement construction.

Netanyahu said he is willing to discuss all the well-known final-status issues, such as Jerusalem, borders and the refugees, but also intends to raise issues of his own - primarily the demand that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state and that any agreement explicitly declare the conflict over and bar any further claims.

"We also have core issues, and the issue of recognition is core, in my view," he said. "If we insist on the recognition, there will be a peace agreement."

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday for talks on efforts to reach a peace agreement in the Middle East.

The premier met with German head of state Horst Koehler on Wednesday, after talks with Mitchell in London.

On Netanyahu's agenda are garnering European support for a tougher stance against Iran and reaching a deal on settlement construction in the West Bank, the cessation of which is a key Palestinian precondition for going back to the negotiating table.

Netanyahu is due to meet German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the morning before being greeted by Merkel in the chancellery in the afternoon.

Merkel preceded the visit by calling for a greater readiness for compromise on Netanyahu's part, in an interview with German television.

Merkel told the N24 broadcaster on Wednesday that "we shouldn't let the window of opportunity pass," and renewed calls for the so-called two-state solution to be implemented.

"The time is absolutely right. Let us do everything to use it," Merkel said.

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      1.   Pragmatic concession by the US 09:53  |  Mark B. 27/08/09
      2.   Somebody didn`t say it 10:03  |  Colin Wright 27/08/09
      3.   In Other Words, Israel and the Arabs Are Too Far Apart to Talk 10:41  |  Dave 27/08/09
      4.   Barack Obama, please tell the world that it`s not true. 11:21  |  Yesh Prabhu 27/08/09
      5.   Unbelievable... 11:23  |  David 27/08/09
      6.   Colin wrong 11:30  |  SDHD 27/08/09
      7.   "Core Issues" and building foundations. 12:21  |  Stephen. 27/08/09
      8.   The Fundamental Question 12:22  |  Andrew 27/08/09
      9.   Get that in writing and signed by obama 12:36  |  Mario 27/08/09
      10.   Where does the buck stop? 12:59  |  khairi janbek 27/08/09
      11.   Obama and bibi 13:19  |  oz 27/08/09
      12.   Expected 14:35  |  Froy 27/08/09
      13.   Obama has now done less than nothing for Peace... 15:01  |  Tcherkessi 27/08/09
      14.   Disturbing 15:06  |  Bazmann 27/08/09
      15.   Who is Negotiating 15:08  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 27/08/09
      16.   Arbs and palis need to 15:10  |  Alcie 27/08/09
      17.   No Freeze on Building in Jerusalem 15:20  |  fredyr 27/08/09
      18.   To #12 15:23  |  Amigo 27/08/09
      19.   SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED - 15:26  |  Miguel Almela Perez 27/08/09
      20.   Reciprocity 15:30  |  Martin 27/08/09
      21.   #5 David....it makes perfect sense 15:31  |  Lynn 27/08/09
      22.   US drops a key demand 15:33  |  WHG 27/08/09
      23.   #11 oz.... I see it the same way as you 15:35  |  Lynn 27/08/09
      24.   Jewish East Jerusalem was ethnically cleansed 15:39  |  Stuart 27/08/09
      25.   Jewish East Jerusalem was ethnically cleansed 15:41  |  Stuart 27/08/09
      26.   Too little... too late... prognosis not hopeful... 15:46  |  Esther 27/08/09
      27.   How Does Hamas Fit Into This 15:48  |  Eli 27/08/09
      28.   to Froy 12 15:49  |  GA 27/08/09
      29.   Froy 15:50  |  Jasper 27/08/09
      30.   Not Surprised 15:52  |  Haaretz Fan 27/08/09
      31.   Iran Sanctions shouldn`t be tied to Settlements 15:58  |  Eli 27/08/09
      32.   AIPAC pressure behind the policy change 15:59  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 27/08/09
      33.   why the deceit? 16:13  |  concerned 27/08/09
      34.   "Declare the conflict over and bar further claims"?? 16:21  |  IW 27/08/09
      35.   to David 16:29  |  NYC Jew 27/08/09
      36.   east jerusulem 16:39  |  Ice 27/08/09
      37.   To Stuart 16:42  |  Sam Soul 27/08/09
      38.   Jerusalem 16:52  |  oz 27/08/09
      39.   Continued Exploitation 16:52  |  vladek 27/08/09
      40.   Read carefully. 17:04  |  george 27/08/09
      41.   good news 17:06  |  alan 27/08/09
      42.   whg 17:08  |  shimi 27/08/09
      43.   peace plan 17:20  |  udi 27/08/09
      44.   Obama waking up to reality 17:31  |  Realist 27/08/09
      45.   Bibi Play Tough If They Want Jerusalem Split Make Sure 17:31  |  Eli 27/08/09
      46.   What should be demanded is total global boycott of Israel 17:38  |  Ivar 27/08/09
      47.   Peace please. Or another war. 17:39  |  Lou Medel 27/08/09
      48.   The Mitchell "Freeze Ray" Leaves East Jerusalem Thawed (2nd try) 17:40  |  Jeff Northridge 27/08/09
      49.   The Iran strategy will prove to the region is the only strategy 17:44  |  The Educator 27/08/09
      50.   Is anyone surprised? 17:44  |  Jennifer 27/08/09
      51.   From the people who disparage Muslims like Obamas father 17:46  |  American Voter 27/08/09
      52.   NYC Jew - Wrong 17:55  |  The Educator 27/08/09
      53.   Obama - Show some Courage 18:02  |  Bill 27/08/09
      54.   David In Montreal 18:04  |  Big Sur 27/08/09
      55.   To Sam Soul in Paris #37 18:10  |  Big Sur 27/08/09
      56.   #7, Stephen, Israel`s security a core issue 18:30  |  Gary 27/08/09
      57.   To Ivar - Interesting that you Should Discuss 4th Geneva Con 18:36  |  Eli 27/08/09
      58.   Dropping EJ settlement freeze demand 18:43  |  Reid 27/08/09
      59.   Well, What Did You Expect? 18:45  |  Jeff Northridge 27/08/09
      60.   US drops EJ settlement freeze demand II 18:51  |  Reid 27/08/09
      61.   40# Read carefully, not my lips but my deeds 18:56  |  Nora 27/08/09
      62.   East Jerusalem belongs to Israel 19:00  |  Peter Williams 27/08/09
      63.   Obama "drops" J-lem demand because he didn`t have voter support 19:01  |  Dr. L. Brnd 27/08/09
      64.   Obama Plan Continued 19:02  |  Reid 27/08/09
      65.   thin line 19:03  |  hans 27/08/09
      66.   Qualified Freeze only merits qualified reciprocity 19:19  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 27/08/09
      67.   Peace has to be established 19:22  |  Joe 27/08/09
      68.   end game? 19:36  |  TC 27/08/09
      69.   #67, Peace is desirable but not on 19:50  |  Gary 27/08/09
      70.   SDHD #6 `Colin Wrong` 19:51  |  Colin Wright 27/08/09
      71.   Peter Williams - er what sovereignty over east Jerusalem? 19:59  |  CJ 27/08/09
      72.   obama administration drops maximalist positions 20:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/08/09
      73.   it`s freezing 20:32  |  peter rouget 27/08/09
      74.   Thank G-d Common Sense Prevailed! 21:01  |  Heather Czerniak 27/08/09
      75.   Colin`s STILL wrong 21:04  |  SDHD 27/08/09
      76.   Obama Making All The Right Moves 21:22  |  Jane 27/08/09
      77.   The end of the beginning? 21:23  |  zmogus 27/08/09
      78.   Deeply disappointed 21:27  |  David 27/08/09
      79.   Bravo Obama ! 21:28  |  Joe 27/08/09
      80.   Good. That US demand never had any foundation. 21:34  |  Raymond in DC 27/08/09
      81.   #59 Don`t spoil our fun us with the obvious facts 21:37  |  Motic 27/08/09
      82.   #63 Dr (?) Brnd 21:45  |  janet 27/08/09
      83.   Israeli Precondition 21:50  |  Sam 27/08/09
      84.   Old song, new words 21:52  |  David 27/08/09
      85.   Obama the coward shows his true colours 22:01  |  peacelover 27/08/09
      86.   Israel & its Tamar gas field - Obama`s new best friend 22:01  |  Rhonda Morris 27/08/09
      87.   Makes sence if you look closer at past agreements 22:01  |  Bloodyscot 27/08/09
      88.   The wind of change has always missed the Mideast ! 22:02  |  Akram Zekaria 27/08/09
      89.   All this Omaba manoevering reminds me of a Yiddish tale.. 22:13  |  Dr. L. Brnd 27/08/09
      90.   Tradition, don`t you know. 22:17  |  Jim 27/08/09
      91.   Dr. L. Brnd - What a load of twaddle. Israel is a thief. 22:21  |  CJ 27/08/09
      92.   CJ doesn`t know what theft is 22:47  |  SDHD 27/08/09
      93.   to The Educator 22:48  |  NYC Jew 27/08/09
      94.   TO CJK (#72) - Yes, but ... 22:49  |  Morris Valentine 27/08/09
      95.   Common sense prevails finally 22:51  |  Chaim 27/08/09
      96.   CJ: Strikes again #91 23:08  |  Bilbi 27/08/09
      97.   Ethnic cleansing hidden behind "kindergartens and schools" 01:55  |  peacelover 28/08/09
      98.   time is over 01:49  |  there will always be 28/08/09
      99.   Colon Wright 02:25  |  Truth Teller 28/08/09
      100.   CJ, actually Brnd is a crime supporter... 02:33  |  BBSNews 28/08/09
      101.   Divided Jerusalem 02:42  |  Richard Pearce 28/08/09
      102.   CJ bogged again with the wheels spinning 03:12  |  Peter Williams 28/08/09
      103.   Hasbara nonsense 03:18  |  Anita Gernant 28/08/09
      104.   CJ 03:31  |  Philippe 28/08/09
      105.   Bibi suckered Obama twice in one move. 03:55  |  Ed 28/08/09
      106.   Game------Set-------Match!!! Yeah Bibi.This is the difference be 04:24  |  Rueben 28/08/09
      107.   Barak Ravid is mistaken; this is a misleading article. 04:34  |  Yesh Prabhu 28/08/09
      108.   You Need To Read Past The Headline, guys.... 04:42  |  Johnboy 28/08/09
      109.   #72 Ravid snares Cipora hook, line and sinker 04:47  |  Johnboy 28/08/09
      110.   #62 Peter Williams is another who can`t read past the headline 04:53  |  Johnboy 28/08/09
      111.   Pragmatism means accepting the facts 04:58  |  ghostoflutherblisset 28/08/09
      112.   freeze 05:02  |  colin 28/08/09
      113.   No surprise! 05:03  |  hollingsworth 28/08/09
      114.   Israel Building freeze in E, Jerusalem 05:21  |  Harold 28/08/09
      115.   The next step is to totally cave in 05:27  |  Mark Lincoln 28/08/09
      116.   #15 05:31  |  Harold 28/08/09
      117.   to Eli #45 05:36  |  Ericport 28/08/09
      118.   What does Israel want? 05:37  |  Mark Lincoln 28/08/09
      119.   to mark b. from amsterdam 05:41  |  neil 28/08/09
      120.   HOLD YOU HORSES people 06:08  |  VIPER 28/08/09
      121.   Settlements 06:20  |  Sid 28/08/09
      122.   Mark Lincoln - er how many voting Jewish folk in the US? 06:39  |  CJ 28/08/09
      123.   Europen descendants? 06:40  |  EW 28/08/09
      124.   #94, Morris Valentine 06:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/08/09
      125.   As Ariel Sharon once said 07:59  |  Abd Mutalip 28/08/09
      126.   no surprise 08:24  |  Attila 28/08/09
      127.   As gullible anti-Israeli simpletons believe... 08:32  |  SDHD 28/08/09
      128.   Obama is here today , gone tomorrow 08:32  |  batya dagan 28/08/09
      129.   Johnboy the US is treating East Jerusalem differently 08:55  |  Peter Williams 28/08/09
      130.   shocking 09:57  |  Mat 28/08/09
      131.   U.S. DROPS DEMAND FOR ISRAEL BUILDING 10:30  |  Motti Birnberg 28/08/09
      132.   The proof of the pudding will be in the eating 10:54  |  r cummings 28/08/09
      133.   CJ you are bogged in mud with the wheels spinning 10:59  |  Peter Williams 28/08/09
      134.   #112 11:04  |  Abd Mutalip 28/08/09
      135.   The Palestinians-Arabs made themselves unapproachable 11:09  |  Akram Zekaria 28/08/09
      136.   #94, Morris Valentine 11:28  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/08/09
      137.   91 11:32  |  zionist forever 28/08/09
      138.   111- Any other thing you read or heard ... 11:39  |  Akram Zekaria 28/08/09
      139.   The settlement Myth 13:08  |  Mark Hamil 28/08/09
      140.   To #62 Peter Williams - Well said! 13:11  |  Michael J 28/08/09
      141.   the buck stops ? 16:58  |  Samuel 28/08/09
      142.   exactly 17:03  |  Samuel 28/08/09
      143.   alls fair in peace etc, 17:12  |  Samuel 28/08/09
      144.   spot on 17:16  |  Samuel 28/08/09
      145.   Peter Williams - er no, Israel`s bogged in 62 years of propaganda 18:03  |  CJ 28/08/09
      146.   Mark Hamil = More zio-twaddle 18:20  |  CJ 28/08/09
      147.   Interesting you should discuss 4th Geneva Con.#57 Eli 22:40  |  Jack 28/08/09
      148.   #139 Niiiiiiiiice straw man, Mark Hamil 03:35  |  Johnboy 29/08/09
      149.   CJ (#91) Speaking about THEFT 10:11  |  Gil 29/08/09
      150.   There will be a "new Jerusalem" and God Himself will decide 16:50  |  Come our Mighty King 29/08/09
      151.   # 63 Dr. L. Brnd, You are absolutely correct. 16:58  |  American Pro Zionist 29/08/09
      152.   Interesting you mention 4th Geneva Con #57 Eli 19:46  |  Jack 29/08/09
      153.   Peter Williams - er, no. Israel is bogged in it`s own propaganda 22:36  |  CJ 29/08/09
      154.   East Jerusalem Lifting Building Freeze 02:58  |  joe 30/08/09
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