U.S. Struggles to Restore Middle East Talks.

WASHINGTON -- With tensions between the United States and Israel flaring again over Jewish settlements, the Obama administration and its allies worked feverishly on multiple fronts Wednesday to put Middle East peace talks back on track. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterated President Obama's criticism of Israel's new housing plans in East Jerusalem, calling them ''counterproductive'' to the peace process. But she discouraged the Palestinian Authority from unilaterally declaring an independent state, an action that Palestinian officials have threatened to take in recent weeks as the talks have remained paralyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]