Friends of Jerusalem woke to a United States State Department announcement that Israel had agreed to a two year moratorium on construction in Jerusalem -- including the Jewish neighborhood that has been at the center of the most recent controversy.

"Could this be true?", One Jerusalem asked our friends in Israel.

The answer, from several sources, including the Prime Minister, is "NO."

Israel has not agreed to suspend construction in Jerusalem.

Our investigation uncovered the real story. During the normal course of governmental approvals and the letting of contracts, it will take two years for the housing project to begin construction. The Obama administration decided to distort this fact by declaring that Israel had agreed to suspend all construction.

An astute American pundit recently said that the Obama administration "Uses lying as an offensive weapon." You bet.

The administration added insult to injury by announcing with a straight face that the Palestinian Authority has agreed to stop incitement among its people. Do they really believe anyone believes this nonsense?