And each has put settlement expansion at the core of his campaign.

He has recently seized on settlement expansion as an issue.

Under the terms of the peace process settlement expansion is supposed to be frozen.

But then the administration tried to pressure Israel to freeze all settlement expansion — and failed.

A 10-month partial freeze on settlement expansion came to an end two years ago.

Yet settlement expansion and the wall continue, as does violence against Palestinian civilians.

"Every day we hear a new settlement expansion plan - this cannot be tolerated."

He didn't specifically weigh in on the planned settlement expansion.

Settlement expansion should accelerate in response to the murders, he added.

Settlement expansion puts out of reach an agreement on borders.

“The one thing that really matters the most to us is settlement expansion,” he said.

With Israel’s economy starting to dip, the high financial price of settlement expansion is getting more attention than usual.

Settlement expansion makes it increasingly difficult to establish an independent Palestinian state.

US policy and the road map specifically oppose settlement expansion to account for natural growth.

The key disputes are over Israeli settlement expansion and whether peace talks should begin where they left off.

A freeze on settlement expansion is a core Palestinian demand.

Abbas has in the past said settlement expansion must stop before talks with Israel can get under way.

The Israeli government has repeatedly said that it would not freeze settlement expansion.

"This (settlement expansion) kills the credibility of the peace process."

This desire for settlement expansion led to an increase in the violation of Palestinians' human rights.

Nor should anyone expect a moratorium on settlement expansion.

It appears unlikely, however, that Netanyahu would change his mind about settlement expansion.

So far Netanyahu has resisted calls to freeze settlement expansion.

Though Israel has supported his appointment, officials remember he was the author of a 2001 report that called for a complete freeze on settlement expansion.

"We think it is in the best interests (of the peace process) that settlement expansion cease.