They're often cited as the biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East and its taken just three weeks before the issue has caused major problems in the talks.
The US has sent its Middle East Envoy to try and resolve the situation but have the settlements now become an excuse not to seek peace?
The US, EU and UN wanted Israel to cease construction whilst the talks were on going and on Sunday Mahmoud Abbas said talks were a "waste of time" unless the 10 month moratorium continued.
So where does this leave the process? Do the settlements stand in the way of peace? Could Israel be doing more? Should Palestinians except some settlements are there to stay? Is the lack of negotiation from both sides the real obstacle here?
That''s all for today''s show. Over the next few days we''ll be in Louisville, Kentucky - but what we will talk about is up to you. Send your suggestions to worldhaveyoursay@bbc.com
Comment sent via Facebook
18:58
113631290
Mubangizi Aston - It will be hard to achieve peace btn Israel and Palestine if the world fails to identify who are the major players and whose interests are being fought 4.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:52
113631290
Bill Scher-Marcus - The settlements are not an obstacle. Israel has already shown that it will evacuate settlements for peace in Sinai and Gaza!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:51
113631290
Peter Feer emailed - How many more Israeli ''gestures'' does Israel have to do in order to ''please'' the enemy? Don't they all know that those ''goodwill getures'' are seen by our enemy as a sign of weakness, and encourage them to demand more?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:49
113631290
Keren Stronach emailed - The settlement issue and the peace process needs to be looked at in context of the whole conflict. Hamas stated policy is the eradication of Israel. I think we should give them due respect and take them at their world. A more balanced and fair discussion would be how to better ensure the security and well-being of both the Palestinians and Israelis
Comment sent via BLOG
18:48
113631290
Tom D Ford on the blog - Yes, they are an excuse. Let's note that these are not "new" settlements, they are being built on lands taken from Palestinians after the Israelis bulldozed the Palestinians' homes and chainsawed down their olive grove orchards. This just a war in slow motion, constantly encroaching on more and more Palestinian land.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:48
113631290
Los Chris Hearn - This has to be one of the world's most divisive issues. It doesn't have just Israeli's and Palestinians divided...it has the world divided
Comment sent via Facebook
18:46
113631290
Daveyone Farmer - Palestine could show the moral lead here: don't attack Israel, don't cause agitation, and the settlers will be seen by the world as the ones who provoked. The Palestinians should lobby for the peace process - this would give them a more credible platform on the world stage
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:41
113631290
Miranda Bray in Indianapolis emailed - I wish the Palestinians hadn’t made it an all-or-nothing issue, but honestly, if the Israelis can’t show even a modicum of restraint by extending the moratorium, then why is everyone else in the world bending over backward to help in the peace process?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:41
113631290
Ruth Kilner - Over the past 10 months, Israel froze building in the west bank and dismantled security checkpoints. The palestinians fired rockets into Israeli territory.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:40
113631290
Ruth Brown in Washington DC emailed - Both sides have got to make concessions. If the West Bank is supposed to be set aside for Palestinians, why do these settlements for Israelis, many of whom are militant in their attitude regarding the land, continue? The Palestinians, to be sure, must give up any goal of retaking ALL of Palestine, which is what some quite openly say they want
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:39
113631290
Simon emailed from the US - If countries could claim ownership based on old history, then Britain should take back half of France as it is British by birthright and marriage
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:39
113631290
Sheri in Cleveland emailed - One of your guests said that it doesn’t cost the U.S. any money domestically to help Israel. Was that a joke? We (the taxpayers) give them over a billion dollars every year
Comment sent via Facebook
18:38
113631290
Suzanne Azar - There is a vocal, fierce and politically savage cohort in Israel that does not want the Palestinians anywhere near anything Jewish.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:38
113631290
Nadar in Newmarket called - If the land is given to the Palestinians, would the Israeli settlers be happy to live under their rule?
Comment sent via Facebook
18:33
113631290
David Fullard - its a lame excuse, i think theyre like children and want attention!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:32
113631290
Albert Eshun emailed - This problem may have some moments of hope from time to time but, as long as neither side is willing to compromise, these peace talk will remain just what they are, "peace talks".
Comment sent via Facebook
18:31
113631290
Dun Birekyeraho - Construction can go on, since any agreement will necessitate housing facilities in the area. Who will own the homes will be resolved as part of negotiations
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:30
113631290
Simon in the USA emails - If countries could claim ownership based on old history, then Britain should take back half of France as it is British by birthright and marriage. But we know this isn't possible or practical. Israel provokes the Arabs in the same way.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:24
113631290
Joseph Chikweti - I don't think it's an excuse, I think it's a genuine concern. All parties ought to compromise for the sake of peace
Comment sent via Facebook
18:22
113631290
Bwalya Chimfwembe - The palastinians had 10 months to take the offer while it was on the table and they din't dream about peace until now.in short it's an excuse to avoid peace.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:21
113631290
Julie Tongrit - if they are serious about the peace process, resumption of building should not be an issue.
Comment sent via SMS
18:21
112276679
Boundaries change in war when the aggressor loses. No one refers.to Polish-occupied Germany. Besides, the west bank was never palestinian. It was Jordanian in 1968.
Richard in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:21
113631290
Tuweni Nambindo - this time they can't say it's the palestinians/arabs who don't want peace.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:20
113631290
Asha Chinwe Ejenonu - I doubt very much if the Israelis are interesting in stopping settlement building. Why is it so hard to understand that the Israeli government are more interested in the welfare of their own citizens (which includes "settlers") than the Palestinian people.
Comment sent via SMS
18:20
109135232
Where does hamas and gaza fit into these peace talks in the longer term? Ziedonis in riga.
Are the settlements an excuse not to make peace?
| Tuesday, 9 Sept. 2010 | 18:06 - 19:00 GMT
They're often cited as the biggest obstacle to peace in the Middle East and its taken just three weeks before the issue has caused major problems in the talks.
The US has sent its Middle East Envoy to try and resolve the situation but have the settlements now become an excuse not to seek peace?
The US, EU and UN wanted Israel to cease construction whilst the talks were on going and on Sunday Mahmoud Abbas said talks were a "waste of time" unless the 10 month moratorium continued.
So where does this leave the process? Do the settlements stand in the way of peace? Could Israel be doing more? Should Palestinians except some settlements are there to stay? Is the lack of negotiation from both sides the real obstacle here?
Your comments
Comment sent via host
That''s all for today''s show. Over the next few days we''ll be in Louisville, Kentucky - but what we will talk about is up to you. Send your suggestions to worldhaveyoursay@bbc.com
Comment sent via Facebook
Mubangizi Aston - It will be hard to achieve peace btn Israel and Palestine if the world fails to identify who are the major players and whose interests are being fought 4.
Comment sent via Facebook
Bill Scher-Marcus - The settlements are not an obstacle. Israel has already shown that it will evacuate settlements for peace in Sinai and Gaza!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Peter Feer emailed - How many more Israeli ''gestures'' does Israel have to do in order to ''please'' the enemy? Don't they all know that those ''goodwill getures'' are seen by our enemy as a sign of weakness, and encourage them to demand more?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Keren Stronach emailed - The settlement issue and the peace process needs to be looked at in context of the whole conflict. Hamas stated policy is the eradication of Israel. I think we should give them due respect and take them at their world. A more balanced and fair discussion would be how to better ensure the security and well-being of both the Palestinians and Israelis
Comment sent via BLOG
Tom D Ford on the blog - Yes, they are an excuse. Let's note that these are not "new" settlements, they are being built on lands taken from Palestinians after the Israelis bulldozed the Palestinians' homes and chainsawed down their olive grove orchards. This just a war in slow motion, constantly encroaching on more and more Palestinian land.
Comment sent via Facebook
Los Chris Hearn - This has to be one of the world's most divisive issues. It doesn't have just Israeli's and Palestinians divided...it has the world divided
Comment sent via Facebook
Daveyone Farmer - Palestine could show the moral lead here: don't attack Israel, don't cause agitation, and the settlers will be seen by the world as the ones who provoked. The Palestinians should lobby for the peace process - this would give them a more credible platform on the world stage
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Miranda Bray in Indianapolis emailed - I wish the Palestinians hadn’t made it an all-or-nothing issue, but honestly, if the Israelis can’t show even a modicum of restraint by extending the moratorium, then why is everyone else in the world bending over backward to help in the peace process?
Comment sent via Facebook
Ruth Kilner - Over the past 10 months, Israel froze building in the west bank and dismantled security checkpoints. The palestinians fired rockets into Israeli territory.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Ruth Brown in Washington DC emailed - Both sides have got to make concessions. If the West Bank is supposed to be set aside for Palestinians, why do these settlements for Israelis, many of whom are militant in their attitude regarding the land, continue? The Palestinians, to be sure, must give up any goal of retaking ALL of Palestine, which is what some quite openly say they want
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Simon emailed from the US - If countries could claim ownership based on old history, then Britain should take back half of France as it is British by birthright and marriage
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Sheri in Cleveland emailed - One of your guests said that it doesn’t cost the U.S. any money domestically to help Israel. Was that a joke? We (the taxpayers) give them over a billion dollars every year
Comment sent via Facebook
Suzanne Azar - There is a vocal, fierce and politically savage cohort in Israel that does not want the Palestinians anywhere near anything Jewish.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Nadar in Newmarket called - If the land is given to the Palestinians, would the Israeli settlers be happy to live under their rule?
Comment sent via Facebook
David Fullard - its a lame excuse, i think theyre like children and want attention!
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Albert Eshun emailed - This problem may have some moments of hope from time to time but, as long as neither side is willing to compromise, these peace talk will remain just what they are, "peace talks".
Comment sent via Facebook
Dun Birekyeraho - Construction can go on, since any agreement will necessitate housing facilities in the area. Who will own the homes will be resolved as part of negotiations
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Simon in the USA emails - If countries could claim ownership based on old history, then Britain should take back half of France as it is British by birthright and marriage. But we know this isn't possible or practical. Israel provokes the Arabs in the same way.
Comment sent via Facebook
Joseph Chikweti - I don't think it's an excuse, I think it's a genuine concern. All parties ought to compromise for the sake of peace
Comment sent via Facebook
Bwalya Chimfwembe - The palastinians had 10 months to take the offer while it was on the table and they din't dream about peace until now.in short it's an excuse to avoid peace.
Comment sent via Facebook
Julie Tongrit - if they are serious about the peace process, resumption of building should not be an issue.
Comment sent via SMS
Boundaries change in war when the aggressor loses. No one refers.to Polish-occupied Germany. Besides, the west bank was never palestinian. It was Jordanian in 1968. Richard in Dayton, Ohio, USA.
Comment sent via Facebook
Tuweni Nambindo - this time they can't say it's the palestinians/arabs who don't want peace.
Comment sent via Facebook
Asha Chinwe Ejenonu - I doubt very much if the Israelis are interesting in stopping settlement building. Why is it so hard to understand that the Israeli government are more interested in the welfare of their own citizens (which includes "settlers") than the Palestinian people.
Comment sent via SMS
Where does hamas and gaza fit into these peace talks in the longer term? Ziedonis in riga.