My Way News - Israel quietly halts settlement building permits: "Israel has quietly moved to halt new housing projects in the West Bank, while outwardly rebuffing U.S. pressure to stop construction in its settlements, Israeli government officials, peace activists and settlers said Tuesday. It isn't the full settlement freeze the Obama administration has been demanding, but it indicates that Israel is seeking a compromise in what has become a rare public disagreement with the U.S., its most important ally."
My Way News - Huckabee says 2 states in Holy Land 'unrealistic': "Former U.S. presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Tuesday there should be no Palestinian state in the West Bank and endorsed Israeli settlements there, sharply disagreeing with Washington and much of the world. [...] Speaking to a small group of foreign reporters in Jerusalem, Huckabee said the international community should consider establishing a Palestinian state some place else."
AFP: Medvedev, Peres meet on Mideast tensions
AFP reports: "Russian President Dmitry Medvedev held talks Tuesday with Israeli President Shimon Peres on efforts to check Iran's nuclear program, stalled Mideast peace talks and other issues, the Kremlin said."
Comment: In today's developments, Israel is making some concessions on the issue of settlements with a view towards appeasing President Obama. Meanwhile, a visiting U.S. dignitary is suggesting a fundamental rethink of the peace process, questioning whether a Palestinian state should ever be created on Israeli territory. And finally, Israel continues to change the subject to Iran, this time with Russia, who is sponsoring Iranian "peaceful" nuclear power efforts and may end up hosting the next international conference on Mideast peace.
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