The Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators has demanded that Israel "halt all settlement activity" in occupied Palestinian territories. <br /><br />The remarks followed a meeting between the United Nations, the US, the EU, and Russia in Moscow.<br /><br />The meeting came amid increasing tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over Israel's recent announcement to build 1,600 new settler homes in East Jerusalem.<br /><br />However, Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of State, said that despite her disagreement with Israeli policies, the bond between the two countries remains "strong and enduring".<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Jackie Rowlands reports.<br /><br />[March 19, 2010]
