Ha'aretz

Meshal: Progess on Shalit deal still a long way off

By The Associated Press Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal said Sunday there was still as long way to go before any agreement could be reached on a deal for the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Deputy PM: Settlement freeze only 'strategic pause' Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai said Sunday that a planned freeze in West Bank settlement construction was only a "strategic pause," implying the move would not be a long-term Israeli policy.

Netanyahu: Settlement construction to slow, once 500 new homes built Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with several Likud cabinet ministers and Knesset members over the weekend, in an attempt to persuade them to support a freeze on construction in the West Bank settlements.