The United States fell short in its efforts to gain a declaration of international support for Israel’s temporary settlement construction freeze.
The Russians argued that they did not agree with stating that Israel will be a Jewish State, and that the borders will be altered on the basis of «developments» on the ground, namely Israeli annexation of the large settlement blocks.
The Russians stressed that such formulation of the Quartet’s text predetermines the results of the negotiations.
The Americans were hoping that its partners in the Quartet – Russia, the European Union and the United Nations – would agree to such a declaration, but Moscow expressed a series of reservations and foiled Washington’s effort.
Last Thursday, a day after the security-political cabinet decided to put a moratorium on construction in settlements for a 10 month period, a conference call was held at the highest levels among Quartet members. In addition to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Europe’s outgoing foreign affairs chief, Javier Solana, and Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, were also on line.
Clinton proposed that the Quartet issue a joint statement of support for the Israeli decision to freeze construction. The other participants agreed and decided to let officials from each side formulate the announcement.
At the crux of the Russian objections were two points that were very important to the U.S. administration: the Jewish identity of the State of Israel, and that the future border between Israel and the Palestinians would reflect developments on the ground.
Source: The Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
My comment:
The communist Soviet Union was a terror state that persecuted and killed Jews. The Jewish people were not allowed to depart from the communist state. They were trapped.
During the 1991 revolution that brought an end to Communism, there was a short window of opportunities for the Jewish people. They were allowed to go home to Israel, and one million Jews left the Russian federation.
Today, Vladimir Putin has displayed that He is a former KGB Colonel. He is ruled by the same anti-Jewish spirits that have ruled in the Kremlin for more than 100 years.
Israel should revoke the settlement freeze. Like one of the settlers rightly said: «Jewish settlements can not be frozen. They are not ice creams».
ivarfjeld.com 
have you ever noticed the horns on Putin’s head?
Dear Stephen.
I have not seen his horns. But I know the former KGB officer is good in martial art. Judo. In regards to the «good old» Communists. They have not changed their hearts and attitudes.They have just changed their colors.
I have seen his horns. Diabolissimo
USSR didn´t a terror state USSR loved jews and all ethnical figures. Putin had been the best president in RF as ever.