Mubarak said that the Israeli freeze on settlement building was "a good step in the right direction.but more is needed".

The initiative also says Israel should freeze settlement building.

At either site, they said, settlement building is unacceptable and a threat to peace talks.

But Arab officials have said numerous times that settlement building and peace-making cannot go together.

The battle had been brief, but every settlement building was in flames.

The Palestinians have previously said nothing short of a complete and immediate end to settlement building will do.

The best chance to get out of the present violent impasse is a cease-fire and a freeze on all settlement building.

The announcement followed calls by the US government for a total freeze in settlement building.

It also mandates a freeze on all settlement building.

We continue to protest the Sharon government's settlement building.