Sunday, August 30, 2009

Netanyahu Says ‘No Agreement’ Yet on Settlements With U.S.

(Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is as yet “no agreement” with the U.S. over President Barack Obama’s demand for a freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank.

“There are many rumors and reports,” Netanyahu said in an interview with Israel Army Radio. “We haven’t agreed to anything.”

Netanyahu met last week with Obama’s Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, to discuss a formula that would satisfy U.S. demands for an end to settlement building and allow negotiations with the Palestinians to resume.

“The discussions are in order to achieve two goals, to start a diplomatic process toward a peace agreement with the Palestinians while at the same time ensuring that the needs of the West Bank residents are met,” Netanyahu said in the interview.