Israel's decision to
limit settlement in construction in the West Bank "helps move forward" efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday.
"We believe that through good-faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome which ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps, and the Israeli goal of a Jewish state with secure and recognized borders," Clinton said in a statement.
US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell said the decision fell short of a full settlement freeze but described it as "significant" and said it "could have a substantial impact on the ground."
Israel earlier on Wednesday said it would limit settlement construction for 10 months in a bid to revive peace negotiations, but Palestinians said the offer fell short of their terms for talks.
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