Settlements no precondition on Mideast talks: US

But State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said the main US goal was to relaunch talks between Israel and the Palestinians,who will decide for themselves on the contours of a peace deal.

8220;The United States position on settlements,we8217;ve said it many times,we haven8217;t changed it,8221; Crowley said.

But he added: 8220;The key here is getting to the negotiations.8221;

8220;Remember what we are trying to achieve here,8221; he said. 8220;We are hoping to get to a formal negotiation through which we can reach a resolution between the Israelis and the Palestinians as part of our ambition to see comprehensive peace in the Middle East.8221;

A State Department official,speaking on condition of anonymity,acknowledged Israel8217;s right-leaning prime minister,Benjamin Netanyahu,has resisted the settlement demands.

The United States is waiting to see whether the Palestinians and other Arabs support holding peace talks nonetheless,the official said.