U.S. State Department spokesman, Ian Kelly, said that an Israeli newspaper report that Israel and the United States have struck a deal which would allow the construction or the completion of 2,500 more housing units in Judea and Samaria isn’t true. Although the spokesman said that Defense Minister Ehud Barak and U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, had “productive discussions,” the U.S. position regarding freezing construction within Judea and Samaria hasn’t changed.

Kelly additionally mentioned that Mitchell plans to go in the near future to Israel to further the peace initiative.

Full Story