Israel moves to jumpstart talks

ISRAEL’S prime minister yesterday proposed a 10-month freeze on West Bank settlement const-ruction in was an attempt to jumpstart peace talks.

However, the Palestinians rejected the proposal before it was even formally unveiled, saying it was unacceptable because it did not include east Jerusalem.

Israeli construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem has been a key sticking point in US efforts to restart mideast peace talks. The Palestinians say they will not return to the negotiating table without a complete halt to construction in both areas, which they claim for a future independent state.