But the brusque exchange between Mr. Obama and Mr. Netanyahu reflected again the gulf between Israel and the United States over settlements — an issue Mr. Obama initially made the centerpiece of his Middle East diplomacy.
Judge Marrero raised concerns with the "neither admit nor deny" language that the regulatory agency includes in many of its settlements, an issue that the appeals court was expected to address in the Citigroup case.
While the Americans and Palestinians wrangle with the Israeli government over continued Israeli construction in the West Bank settlements — an issue that has stalled the embryonic peace talks — the competition for control of each acre of land here is being played out day by day.
From the United States justice department's biggest ever settlement for an issue of housing discrimination, to being sued by Elgin Baylor, an NBA legend and former Clippers general manager, there should be scrutiny of the number of years Sterling has been given a pass.
"But the unauthorized settlements, which is different from the authorized settlements, is an issue we've been very clear on," he said.
Settlements are an issue that must be addressed in the peace negotiations, but doesn't this incident underscore that Hamas must cease its unprovoked violence if we are to have any hope of regional peace?
While Mr. Netanyahu was committed to discussing borders, Israeli officials said, the Israeli government could not pledge that there would be enough progress in 90 days to remove settlements as an issue.
The fate of existing settlements is an issue that must be dealt with by the parties, along with the other permanent-status issues – but, like every US administration for decades, we do not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity".
"The key is to put the negotiations back on their feet so that both parties are internally less vulnerable, and to take settlements as an issue by itself out of the discussions," a top diplomat said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because all sides had agreed not to talk publicly about the details of the talks.
He has recently seized on settlement expansion as an issue.
