Palestinians want freeze on building
Palestinian leaders preparing for a U.S.-sponsored conference with Israel this month have told the United States they will accept nothing less than a total freeze in the construction of Jewish settlements, a top Palestinian official said.
Saeb Erekat said he sent a letter to the Bush administration Friday demanding that Israel fully meet its obligations under a long-stalled “road map” peace plan. The plan seeks a freeze on settlements; it also calls on the Palestinians to rein in militants.
Western diplomats say Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wants to exempt major West Bank settlements.
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