White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Tuesday, August 18th, told reporters that President Barak Obama is “pleased with progress” following announcements from Jerusalem and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has frozen construction throughout Yehuda and Shomron through the end of 2009 at least.

Gibbs added “…so let me reiterate it – this is not – these are not steps for one side to take”, carefully adding the PA must also fulfill its obligations under the Roadmap and other agreements.

President Obama met on Tuesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who America views as a major player in regional peace efforts. The American president had only words of praise for the Egyptian leader, who he labeled “a leader” and “a friend”, stating together they are working to obtain regional peace in the Mideast.

Suleiman Awad, a senior aide to Mubarak, released a statement that Obama is expected to release a draft of his peace plan in September. Regarding Israel’s announced decision to freeze “settlement construction”, the president stated he is “encouraged”.

True to form, Prime Minister Netanyahu is quoted as denying the media reports, stating there is no new settlement freeze, seeking to save face among his constituents, right-wingers, with officials releasing statements that there has been a de facto settlement freeze from months, a policy that was inherited from the former Olmert administration.

The PM’s Office released a statement challenging the accuracy of reports that a settlement freeze agreement was reached between the prime minister and Defense Minister (Labor) Ehud Barak and Housing Minister (Shas) Ariel Atias.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)