Israeli PM faces call for settlement moratorium

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2009

ROME (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Rome on Tuesday as Italy's foreign minister called on Israel to declare a moratorium on the expansion of its settlements in the West Bank.

"We would very much appreciate a gesture on the Israeli side announcing a moratorium on the expansion of existing settlements," Franco Frattini told reporters shortly before Netanyahu's plane touched down.

"While negotiations are under way, a moratorium would be very important," he said.

Netanyahu, on his first trip to Europe since taking office in late March, was to meet with his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT).

The hawkish Israeli leader is expected to press for tougher sanctions against arch-foe Iran over its nuclear drive when...