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Israel Sees Deal Soon with Obama over Settlements

[Reuters] Adam Entous - Prime Minister Netanyahu is negotiating a deal with Washington under which Israeli building in existing Jewish settlements could go forward in certain cases, Israeli and Western officials said on Tuesday. In talks with President Obama's Middle East envoy, Netanyahu has asserted that his government does not have the legal authority to stop building in cases in which tenders for new structures have already been awarded or when homes under construction have already been purchased. "I'm confident that we will be able to reach an agreement in the near future that will enable us to put the settlement issue aside and to move forward to what I regard as far more substantive issues in the peace process," said Michael Oren, Israel's new ambassador to Washington. Oren said "creative" proposals have been presented by both the Netanyahu and Obama administrations to narrow differences. A senior Western official said some in Washington were "sympathetic" to Netanyahu's position. Netanyahu told U.S. television he would meet Middle East envoy George Mitchell in Europe next week to discuss settlements, and that he hoped to find "a common position." A senior Western diplomat said Washington's focus was shifting somewhat, from the highly contentious settlement issue to ways to restart negotiations with the Palestinians.
2009-06-17 06:00:00
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