[Reuters] Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio on Wednesday that Israel was close to an understanding with Washington on Jewish settlements, but ruled out a total freeze. Barak held talks in New York on Tuesday with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell. Barak said Israel was insisting on completing construction projects already underway. He told reporters that the meeting with Mitchell, which lasted more than four hours, was "positive," but there were still "differences." Asked whether Israel would declare a temporary settlement building freeze, Barak said: "I think that it's a little bit too early to predict. We are considering every positive contribution Israel can make towards the taking off of a significant, important peace effort."
2009-07-01 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive