WASHINGTON, July 1, 2010 (WAFA)- Americans for Peace Now (APN) set out a Petition calling for the settlement freeze to be extended, as U.S President Obama will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday.

This meeting is an opportunity for Obama to push Netanyahu to act for peace by stopping construction in West Bank settlements, APN said.

Israel announced a moratorium on new settlement construction last year, but that freeze has yet to result in a discernable slowdown in construction. And the settlement freeze is set to expire in three months. If it is not extended, peace talks may collapse.

Settlement construction undermines Israel's chances to achieve peace. It corrodes faith in peace talks and it complicates negotiations over the future border between Israel and the Palestinians.

A Peace Now report issued this month revealed a spike in construction starts just before the current moratorium took effect. That's a key reason why the settlement freeze has not yet been translated into a slowdown in construction. An extension of the freeze - without new loopholes - can bring about an end to settlement expansion.

“Tell Obama to push for an extension of the settlement freeze to achieve peace and security for Israel,” APN said.

Pushing for a real settlement freeze goes hand-in-hand with the need for the Palestinian Authority to fight anti-Israeli violence and incitement. Each side must do its part for peace.

President Obama was right to push Israel for a settlement freeze a year ago. Now, it is time for him to hold the line and have that freeze extended long enough to make a difference.