Obama asked Netanyahu for gestures to Palestinians

President Barack Obama asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for confidence-building steps toward the Palestinians to help launch indirect talks, but differences remain between Israel and the United States, the White House said on Wednesday.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, speaking a day after Obama and Netanyahu met at the White House, also said US officials were seeking "clarification" of Israel's plan for a further expansion of Jewish housing in East Jerusalem. (Reuters)