Without such a freeze, ongoing settlement construction will only provoke more hostility and undermine any attempts to stop violence.

Some stated that they might recognize the state if talks did not progress, or to punish Israel for settlement construction.

She can start by telling the Israelis they need to immediately end targeted killings and halt all settlement construction.

Or, it could have $10 billion over five years, on the condition that it freeze all settlement construction, including units already under way.

But the panel also includes ministers on the political left who want a complete freeze on settlement construction.

If there is any serious talk of a "timeout" in settlement construction, it sure hasn't reached Ofra.

A full-scale return to settlement construction could fatally undermine the talks.

In fact, Israeli and Palestinian groups reported that settlement construction was accelerating.

Israel has not stopped settlement construction as called for in the first of the plan's three phases.

Israel denied that such evacuations were a preparation for settlement construction.