But a Palestinian negotiator says the peace process is failing because of Israel's stance. 

"This is the prudent and necessary move and displays that the true interests of the Israeli people are not being abandoned in the face of unjustified international demands", Danny Dayan, chairman of the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria, said in a statement.

 "Israel came to the negotiating table without any preconditions. When the Obama administration proposed this precondition it cast serious doubts over their ability to be an honest broker in the process and the removal of this precondition is therefore a very positive development". 

Mohamad Shtayeh, member of the Palestinian negotiating team, said the Israel's daily settlement activity is sabotaging the peace process.  

U.S.-Israeli talks about a possible settlement freeze have ended after what the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the diplomacy, called a "joint determination".