World f"J PE FR( ,:,(" )1‘\J ROUNDUP Roundup from page 31 not just that building has stopped: The committees that deal with this are not even meeting anymore!' Projects under construction would be completed, Margalit said. President Obama reportedly asked Netanyahu to declare a freeze on east- ern Jerusalem construction in order to bring the Palestinians back to proxim- ity talks on a peace agreement during their meeting last month at the White House. The Palestinians have said they will not enter new indirect talks with Israel until Jewish construction is halted in eastern Jerusalem. Netanyahu had rejected an Obama administration call for a total con- struction freeze in eastern Jerusalem in a message conveyed recently to the White House, according to the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by the Prime Minister's Office. Netanyahu did agree, however, to undertake confidence-building measures toward the Palestinians, including allowing the opening of Palestinian Authority institutions in eastern Jerusalem, turning over more West Bank land to Palestinian security control and discussing core issues such as permanent borders and the status of Jerusalem during indirect peace talks instead of waiting for direct negotiations. MAY 11th TICKETS GOING FAST! PALACENET.COM TICKETS AT THEPALACEBOXOFFICE8 fitlitZtEtitar AL &totals sod lictott odoss object to dvanco 'About notice. A stoics chase to sided roach kb! Moo The Original Since 1939 Bring your Rugs to any of our Rug Care Centers and we'll clean every other one FREE! Pick up and delivery available at regular price 24 Hour Water and Fire Damage Response In Home Cleaning Specials* GEOPLAN CI..V. 4 Rooms 9999 2 Rooms 5999 7. Sofa or 2 Chairs 5999 *Some restrictions a. • I ; 1-800-HAGOPIAN (424-6742) www.originalhagopian.com Were Your Leather Cleaning Specialists 8 Mile W I Coolidge Rug Care Centers Birmingham S. Old Woodward N / 141 /2 111' • 12 Mile & Novi Rd 34 April 29 • 2010 Hall Rd (M59) E I Van Dyke • Atm Arbor The Courtyard Shops U.S. Committed To Israel Security, Says Obama WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Obama told Israel's defense minister that the United States is committed to Israel's security. Obama spoke with Ehud Barak at the White House, where the defense minister had arrived on Monday to meet with U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones. Obama also told Barak that he is determined to bring about a com- prehensive peace in the Middle East, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. Also Monday, Jones apologized for telling an off-color Jewish joke last week during a 25th anniversary cel- ebration for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The joke told the story of a Jewish merchant who had tricked a Taliban terrorist searching for water into buy- ing a tie. "I wish that I had not made this off-the-cuff joke at the top of my remarks," Jones said. "It also distracted from the larger message I carried that day: That the United States' commitment to Israel's security is sacrosanct!' Rally Decries Obama NEW YORK (JTA) — At least 1,000 demonstrators protesting President Obama's treatment of Israel gathered in front of the Israeli Consulate in Manhattan. Sunday's rally was organized by the Jewish Action Alliance and sponsored by 20 groups, Jewish and non-Jewish. "We are outraged that President Obama is scapegoating Israel and wants to expel Jews from their homes in Jerusalem:' said Beth Gilinsky of the Jewish Action Alliance, according to WPIX TV in New York. "President Obama and Secretary [of State] Hillary Clinton show more anger about a Jewish family building a home in Jerusalem than Iran building a nuclear bomb. Vast segments of the Jewish community will not tolerate the president's continuing attacks on Israel. Grassroots Jewry will not be silent!' In a taped message played for the protesters, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch slammed Obama for his treatment of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel Lifts iPad Ban JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel has lifted its ban on the iPad. The Communications Ministry announced Saturday it will allow personal imports of the Apple iPad into the country. Since its release two weeks ago, Israeli customs officials had been confiscating the device from Israelis entering the country. Officials said the devices were banned because they did not meet Israel's wireless specifications and could place a strain on the wireless Internet in Israel. But a report in Time magazine sug- gested that the reason might have more to do with personal politics: iDigital, Apple's sole official Israeli importer, is owned by Chemi Peres, son of Israeli President Shimon Peres, and the ban might have been about protecting his monopoly. A Communications Ministry state- ment released Saturday said, "The scrutiny conducted by the Ministry technical team vis-a-vis Apple's team, International laboratory and European counterparts confirmed that the device which could be operated in various standards will be operated in Israel in accordance to the local stan- dards."