Israel's Netanyahu downplays tensions with US


Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to ease tensions with the US, describing the two countries' relations as those of "allies and friends". Mr Netanyahu also dismissed reports one of his confidants called US President Barack Obama a "disaster" for Israel. The US has criticised the building of Jewish homes in East Jerusalem, which prompted the Palestinians to pull out of US-brokered indirect peace talks. The row has caused one of the worst crises in US-Israeli ties for decades. It has also led to increased tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas ruling out talks with Israel unless it halts the construction of settlements in occupied territory. Some leaders at an Arab League summit in Libya echoed Mr Abbas's position in a statement on Sunday, saying negotiations could not resume unless Israel stopped all settlement building.

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