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Source: http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=185736
U.S. Rebuffs "Freeze" Precondition
(Jerusalem Post) Herb Keinon - While the U.S. was "mindful" of Palestinian demands for a construction freeze in the West Bank, State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley said Monday the issue would be discussed on September 2 in Washington, ruling it out as a precondition for direct talks. "The issue of settlements, the issue of the moratorium...has been a topic of discussion and will be a topic of discussion when the leaders meet with Secretary Clinton on September 2," Crowley said. Vice Premier Silvan Shalom told Quartet envoy Tony Blair that preconditions do not foster dialogue, and that the Palestinians did not make preconditions before sitting with Israel at Wye Plantation, Camp David or even Annapolis.