White House: Kick off negotiations with settlement freeze talks
The White House announced that the issue of the continuation of the imposed construction moratorium on the West Bank settlements will be discussed at the start of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians in Washington.
"Settlements are an important issue. And we expect to address settlements, as well as the other crucial final-status issues within the context of the negotiation," said State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley. (Yitzhak Benhorin, Washington)
