Israel faces 'difficult' choices

Washington, 22 March-(ANA)-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to call on Israel to make "difficult but necessary choices" if it wants a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

Mrs Clinton will warn that the status quo is "unsustainable" in a speech to the pro-Israel lobby group, Aipac.

Her comments come amid a dispute between the US and Israel over plans for 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out halting settlement construction in the city.

The Palestinian Authority is furious at Israel's insistence on building on occupied territory. It sees it as a serious stumbling block to the resumption of talks, which have been stalled for more than a year.(ANA)

FA/ANA/22 March 2010-------