One of the major stumbling blocks to peace are the settlements. This piece gives some basic facts about them.

Israeli Settlements on Occupied Palestinian Territories

Settlements are essentially large housing projects built illegally by Israel on land confiscated from Palestinians within the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. These settlements are joined to each other and to Israel through "by-pass" roads, which are for the exclusive use of Israelis and which are also built on privately owned Palestinian land confiscated by the Israeli government.

Israeli settlements affect Palestinian daily life and impact long-term Palestinian developmental needs. They ensure that Palestinians live in a continuous state of insecurity and fragmentation and therefore prevent economic, social and political development.
[read more]

thanks to Unknown News

----------

There's no park gear fitted to this crisis

Top level discussions in the Palestinian Authority before U.S. mediator Anthony Zinni and Vice President Richard Cheney flew in led to a clear cut approach - it would take more than Israeli agreement to enter political negotiations for the Palestinians to enter security negotiations. They want - in advance - a "road map" clearly showing where they are going. They want to know when the Israeli government will approve the Mitchell report, when it will freeze the settlements, and how much time will pass after security returns to the streets of Israel before Israel commits itself to ending the occupation.
[read more]