Netanyahu called Clinton Thursday night

Posted By P.J. Aroon Friday, March 19, 2010 - 9:34 PM Share

From the Washington Post:

In an effort to defuse a bitter spat with the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday night to propose confidence-building measures to get Middle East peace talks back on track, U.S. and Israeli officials said."

Meanwhile, Clinton told BBC TV that the tough stand she has taken after Israel's  announcement of a new East Jerusalem housing project* last week is "paying off":

I think we're going to see the resumption of the negotiation track and that means that it is paying off because that's our goal."

*Update, March 23:  The phrase "announcement of a new East Jerusalem housing project" corrects the original phrasing of "settlements announcement."

DAN BALILTY/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:HILLARY, ISRAEL/PALESTINE
 

Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America's top diplomat.