Israel, West Bank Settlement | featured news

Israeli troops killed two Palestinians who tried to stab a soldier on Sunday, the Israeli army said, in West Bank violence that placed further strain on U.S.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel and the Palestinians on Saturday to restart negotiations as world powers stepped up diplomatic efforts to push the peace process forward.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton dismisses the view that relations between the United States and Israel are in crisis after a row between the two countries over settlements.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday attended a tree-planting ceremony in the West Bank town of Kfar Etzion to mark Tu B'Shvat (Arbor day) and said, "Our message is clear: We are planting trees here and we are here to stay."

Jewish settlers widened their protests on Sunday against a temporary construction freeze by shooting at a Palestinian home, torching and stoning vehicles, and assaulting Israeli officers in separate West Bank incidents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to announce Wednesday a formal plan to limit settlement construction for 10 months, hoping to revive talks with the Palestinians, government sources said.

Israel triggered a fresh rift with Washington over settlement building on Tuesday by approving the building of 900 homes for Jews on West Bank land it occupied in a 1967 war and annexed to its Jerusalem municipality.

The Palestinian president on Wednesday resisted U.S. pressure for a resumption of peace talks with Israel, repeating his demand for a complete halt to West Bank settlement building before negotiations.