[Ha'aretz] Barak Ravid - The chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Howard Berman (D-Cal.), said during a closed meeting with Jewish leaders in Los Angeles last week that the Obama administration is making a mistake in demanding Israel completely freeze construction in the settlements. Berman said Israel and the U.S. are close to reaching an agreement that will "be face-saving for everyone." A political source in Jerusalem said Friday that ultimately it is likely the freeze will be for nine to 12 months and would not apply to eastern Jerusalem or include most of the housing units already under construction. "PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is waiting for the U.S. to present him Israel on a platter," Berman told the Jewish leaders.
2009-08-24 08:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive