Palestinians critical of US settlement proposal

Palestinians are expressing strong reservations about a US proposal meant to entice Israel to reinstate limits on West Bank settlement construction and revive peace talks. The proposal calls for a 90-day ban on housing starts in the West Bank, but not in war-won east Jerusalem.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat did not reject the proposal outright on Sunday, but said a decision on whether to endorse it would be made after consultations with Palestinian and Arab leaders. Erekat says the Palestinians "have a major problem in not including east Jerusalem." (AP)