[AP/Washington Post] Steven R. Hurst - President Obama said Tuesday he is encouraged by progress in U.S. efforts to bring Israel and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Responding to a question about reports that Israel had stopped granting permission for new settlements in the West Bank, even though projects in progress were continuing, Obama said, "The Israeli government has taken discussions with us very seriously," adding that he was "encouraged by what I am seeing on the ground." "All parties," he said, "have to take steps to restart serious negotiations." That, he said, included Palestinians efforts to end the incitement of violence against Israel.
2009-08-19 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive