Midway options

Before Israel and the Palestinians can proceed to the crucial issues at hand, slated to be discussed in the year-long timetable that was laid in Washington in early September for inking a peace deal, they must first overcome disagreement over the continued building of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) shake hands as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton smiles in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh Sept. 14, 2010. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas started the second round of direct talks on Tuesday in Sharm el-Sheikh after their first round in nearly two years inWashingtonon Sept. 2.[Hayam Adel/Xinhua]

At the Israeli cabinet's weekly meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said he is prepared to adopt a compromise on the matter.

Though he refrained from making binding statements, the Israeli premier did suggest implementing a partial extension of the moratorium, in which Israel will continue building in a "limited fashion," as was the case when Netanyahu's predecessor, Ehud Olmert, held negotiations with Abbas.

"There's all or nothing, but there are also midway options," Netanyahu told Likud ministers, adding "I don't know if there will be a comprehensive freeze, but I also don't know if it is necessary to construct all 20,000 housing units waiting to be built."

But Abbas seems to have taken an all-or-nothing approach on the construction moratorium in recent weeks, vowing repeatedly to bolt out of the direct talks if the construction activity is renewed.

Palestinian officials on Monday rejected Netanyahu's solution of a partial construction freeze, saying there are "no half solutions" to their demand.

"Choosing to continue with settlements in any form means destroying the negotiations," Israeli daily Ha'aretz quoted chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat as saying ahead of Tuesday's talks.