...instead, praised Israel for showing "restraint" on the matter of "settlements," as the Jewish communities in the biblical heartland are often referred to. This restraint, he said, has created more opportunity for direct talks. Obama said that he hopes face-to-face negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will resume before the freeze expires.
“Obama said that he hopes face-to-face negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will resume before the freeze expires.”
what he really meant: ...before hell freezes over.
(Sorry, I couldn’t resist:-)