Israelis remain deeply split on the settlement issue.
The settlement issue has torpedoed efforts to restart peace talks.
In fact, over the years there have been negotiations despite the settlement issue.
The United States must be ready to bring the settlement issue to the Security Council.
Mr. Bush knows the price his father paid for taking a stand on the settlement issue.
But the settlement issue is only a piece of Tirza's challenge.
Tensions between Mr. Barak's government and the Palestinians also escalated over the settlement issue.
Mr. Danon said in a telephone interview that he and Ms. Palin did not discuss the settlement issue.
Mr. Kerry, who was traveling in Brazil, said he called Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Tuesday and discussed the settlement issue.
Israeli officials, on the other hand, dismissed the report, saying that the only way to resolve the settlement issue was through direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations without preconditions.
The settlement issue is a sticking point, with the Palestinians long having refused to return to talks as building goes on.
