31.   On Wednesday, Palestinian leaders said they would not resume negotiations unless Barak declared a settlement freeze.

32.   Polls in Israel have show that most Israelis strongly support Sharon three months after his election but would welcome a settlement freeze in exchange for a cease-fire.

33.   Rabin won the election, announced a settlement freeze and entered secret talks in Oslo with the PLO, represented by Abbas.

34.   Rabin won the election, announced a settlement freeze and entered secret talks with the PLO, represented by Abbas.

35.   Prodded by the Americans, the two sides returned to the negotiating table last week, though Israel did not commit to a settlement freeze.

36.   Rabin said the government never promised a complete settlement freeze, that some investment would continue.

37.   The commission proposed a series of confidence-building steps, including an Israeli settlement freeze and the outlawing of militant groups by the Palestinians.

38.   The group called for an immediate settlement freeze and the dismantling of all the settlements in the framework of a final peace treaty.

39.   The Israelis insist that even a partial settlement freeze come only after a period of quiet.

40.   The newspaper said the Americans accepted the limited pledge because Netanyahu made it clear that his coalition would not accept a settlement freeze.