ME peace possible with full settlement freeze

ISRAEL: Israel and the Palestinians could clinch a peace deal within six months if the Jewish state halted all settlement growth, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said in an interview published on Wednesday.

"I spoke with Defence Minister Ehud Barak twice over recent weeks," Abbas told Israel's left-leaning Haaretz daily.

"I suggested to him three weeks ago that Israel freeze all settlement construction for six months, including in east Jerusalem, without declaring it, just carrying it out in practice.

"During this time, we can return to the negotiating table and perhaps even achieve a final-status agreement. JERUSALEM, Friday, AFP