Israeli foreign minister says he pulled out of crucial talks with US

JERUSALEM — Israel’s ultranationalist foreign minister said Monday that he voluntarily removed himself from crucial talks with the United States because he lives in a West Bank settlement, denying speculation that he’s being sidelined by an image-conscious government troubled by growing friction with the Obama administration.

Israel’s Barak seeks ‘understanding’ with US at meeting with envoy

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister said Sunday he hopes to reach a “wider understanding” on regional peace when he meets Washington’s Mideast envoy this week, but gave no indication the sides have resolved a dispute over settlement construction in the West Bank.

Gaza aid boat passengers remain in jail 3 days after being intercepted by Israeli navy

JERUSALEM — Most members of a group of foreign peace activists seized at sea by the Israeli navy remained in custody Friday, three days after their failed attempt to run Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, relatives and supporters said.

Report: Israel considering partial lift of Gaza embargo to promote prisoner release

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Defense Ministry has recommended a partial lifting of the embargo on the Gaza Strip as a goodwill gesture toward the Palestinians to spur talks to free a long-held captive soldier, an Israeli news site reported Friday.

Israel approves 50 new housing units in West Bank on eve of Barak visit to Washington

JERUSALEM — Israel has approved 50 new houses in a West Bank settlement just as Israel’s defense minister left Monday for Washington to try to defuse growing tension with the Obama administration over such construction.

Israel advancing plans to expand unsanctioned West Bank settler enclaves

JERUSALEM — New details emerged Sunday about Israeli plans to expand Jewish settler enclaves, as Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak prepared to head to Washington to ease friction with the Obama administration over settlement construction.

Israel deflects Quartet, G-8 calls for settlement freeze

JERUSALEM — Israel deflected growing international demands for a settlement freeze Saturday, saying the issue should be dealt with in future peace talks with the Palestinians.

Israel scales down control in 4 major West Bank towns, marks anniversary of soldier’s capture

JERUSALEM — Bowing to pressure from Washington, Israel granted U.S.-trained Palestinian security forces greater autonomy in four main West Bank towns, Israeli and Palestinian defense officials said Thursday.

Israel scales down in 4 major West Bank cities, marks anniversary of soldier’s capture

JERUSALEM — Bowing to pressure from Washington, Israel granted U.S.-trained Palestinian security forces greater autonomy in four major West Bank cities, Israeli and Palestinian defense officials said Thursday.

Israeli military scaling back presence in 4 major West Bank towns

JERUSALEM — Defense officials say the Israel military is pulling forces out of four major West Bank towns.

No progress in prisoner swap as Israel marks 3 years since soldier’s capture

JERUSALEM — Israel marked the third anniversary Thursday of the capture of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, with no new information on the plight of the young man and few signs of progress in efforts to bring him home.

Israel releases senior Hamas politician, prompting speculation of deal to free soldier

JERUSALEM — Israel on Tuesday freed the most senior of dozens of Hamas politicians in custody, prompting speculation it was a prelude to a deal for the release of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinians for three years.

Israel releases Hamas-affiliated Palestinian parliament speaker

TULKAREM, West Bank — The most senior Hamas leader being held by Israel was freed Tuesday after serving the bulk of his three-year sentence.

Report: Israel plans to legalize and expand unauthorized West Bank outpost

JERUSALEM — The Israeli government has formulated plans to legalize 60 existing homes at an unauthorized settlement outpost in the West Bank and allow the construction of 240 other residences, an Israeli group said Tuesday.

Palestinian prime minister sets goal of setting up independent state’s institutions in 2 years

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Institutions for an independent Palestinian state should be up and running within two years, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Monday, for the first time setting such a target date.

Palestinians: Netanyahu must resume talks from point they ended with previous government

ABU DIS, West Bank — The chief Palestinian negotiator said Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must resume peace talks from the point where they ended under Israel’s previous, more moderate government.

Israeli envoy to Washington confident about compromise on settlements

JERUSALEM — Israel’s incoming ambassador to the United States said Tuesday he was confident that his government will soon reach an agreement with Washington to allow some construction in West Bank settlements.

Palestinians seek world help against Netanyahu peace terms, but don’t rule out talks

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian officials sought U.S and European help to salvage foundering peacemaking on Monday after tough terms laid out by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but they stopped short of refusing to resume negotiations.

Coalition allies embrace Netanyahu’s endorsement of Palestinian state

JERUSALEM — Top figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hawkish government lined up behind him Monday after he declared conditional support for Palestinian independence, despite the historically hard line they have taken on territorial concessions.

Netanyahu gives in to US pressure, calls for creation of Palestinian state

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed a Palestinian state beside Israel for the first time on Sunday, reversing himself under U.S. pressure but attaching conditions such as having no army that the Palestinians swiftly rejected.

Israeli premier Netanyahu accepts creation of ‘disarmed’ Palestinian state for the 1st time

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday called for creation of a limited Palestinian state for the first time, saying it would have to be disarmed.

Israeli premier Netanyahu appeals to Arab leaders to meet and make peace

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday called on Palestinian leaders to restart peace negotiations without preconditions.

Israeli premier Netanyahu appeals to Arab and Palestinian leaders to meet and make peace

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling on Palestinian leaders to restart peace negotiations without preconditions.

Israel leader to call for demilitarized Palestinian state in policy speech, says Netanyahu aid

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time will endorse the notion of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, top aides said Sunday, giving in to heavy U.S. pressure to drop his long-standing opposition to Palestinian independence.

Iranian election gives Netanyahu opportunity to put peacemaking on back burner in speech

JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister delivers a highly anticipated policy speech Sunday in which he could use the re-election of Iran’s hard-line president to boost his argument that Tehran poses a bigger threat to Mideast peace than his refusal to endorse Palestinian statehood.

US envoy tries to ease Israeli concerns, says support for Jewish state remains firm

JERUSALEM — An American envoy sought to assure anxious Israeli leaders on Tuesday that U.S. support for the Jewish state remains firm, despite a growing rift over Israeli construction in West Bank settlements and the Obama administration’s approach to peace efforts.

US envoy begins Mideast push amid tensions with Israel over settlement construction

JERUSALEM — U.S. envoy George Mitchell began a new swing through the Mideast on Tuesday with a call for a rapid resumption of peace talks, as the White House tried to push Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank.

Israeli troops kill 4 Palestinians equipped with explosives-laden horses in Gaza border clash

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Gaza militants with explosives-laden horses approached the Israeli border early Monday, igniting a battle that left four gunmen dead, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.

Israeli soldiers kill 4 Palestinian gunmen in clash along Gaza border

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops killed four Palestinian gunmen early Monday in a flare-up of violence along the tense frontier between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza, a Palestinian official said.

Israel’s Netanyahu to lay out peace principles next week in response to Obama speech

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he will deliver a major policy address next week laying out his proposed road to Mideast peace, after coming under stiff U.S. pressure to freeze West Bank settlement construction and endorse Palestinian statehood.