Israel to build hundreds of houses in West Bank: Reports

[ashwin]

JERUSALEM: Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will soon approve the construction of hundreds of new housing units in West Bank
before he declares a moratorium, in an apparent snub to Washington's call for total settlement freeze to push forward the fragile peace talks with Palestinians.

Aides in the Prime Minister's office were quoted by local media that Netanyahu has informed US officials of his decision to authorise the construction of houses a few weeks ago.

The immediate future of construction in West Bank settlements will be reportedly determined in talks between Israeli officials and US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, who will visit Israel next week.

"The issue could be decided in Mitchell's two-day visit, which will begin on Thursday", the PMO source was quoted as saying. However US officials in Israel denied knowledge of any such approval by the US administration.

A spokesman for the US embassy in Tel Aviv, Kurt Hoyer, told Ynetnews that it is unlikely that Washington would accept anything "contrary to the spirit of negotiations they've been undertaking" and added it was "doubtful" the US had signed off on the Israeli decision.

The hundreds of units whose construction the Israeli premier, heading an overwhelmingly right-wing coalition, is expected to approve will join some 2,500 housing units currently being built there.(

PMO officials have revealed that Netanyahu "will agree to consider a temporary freeze on construction in the West Bank for a few months after he approves the additional building permits".

"The Americans do not agree with the approval of (new housing units) and are not happy about it, but we put it on the table a long time ago," a source told Haaretz.

The precise length of the moratorium is still under debate and US and Israel are negotiating on this issue. Netanyahu does not agree to a freeze exceeding a period of six months, while the Americans are insisting on a nine-month period, the reports said. Israel is demanding that the Palestinian Authority and Arab states make concessions in exchange for a freeze.

An US administration official told Ha'aretz yesterday that Jerusalem and Washington are close to achieving an understanding on these issues.

"Netanyahu's actions will determine the future of his relationship with President Obama, so this is a crucial trial," an PMO aide said. The Palestinian Authority (PA) reacted angrily to the move, saying it would derail any progress in resuming peace negotiations.

"I think the only thing that will be suspended by this announcement is the peace process," said senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

[WarProfessor]

Originally Posted by ashwin

JERUSALEM: Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will soon approve the construction of hundreds of new housing units in West Bank
before he declares a moratorium, in an apparent snub to Washington's call for total settlement freeze to push forward the fragile peace talks with Palestinians.

Aides in the Prime Minister's office were quoted by local media that Netanyahu has informed US officials of his decision to authorise the construction of houses a few weeks ago.

The immediate future of construction in West Bank settlements will be reportedly determined in talks between Israeli officials and US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, who will visit Israel next week.

"The issue could be decided in Mitchell's two-day visit, which will begin on Thursday", the PMO source was quoted as saying. However US officials in Israel denied knowledge of any such approval by the US administration.

A spokesman for the US embassy in Tel Aviv, Kurt Hoyer, told Ynetnews that it is unlikely that Washington would accept anything "contrary to the spirit of negotiations they've been undertaking" and added it was "doubtful" the US had signed off on the Israeli decision.

The hundreds of units whose construction the Israeli premier, heading an overwhelmingly right-wing coalition, is expected to approve will join some 2,500 housing units currently being built there.(

PMO officials have revealed that Netanyahu "will agree to consider a temporary freeze on construction in the West Bank for a few months after he approves the additional building permits".

"The Americans do not agree with the approval of (new housing units) and are not happy about it, but we put it on the table a long time ago," a source told Haaretz.

The precise length of the moratorium is still under debate and US and Israel are negotiating on this issue. Netanyahu does not agree to a freeze exceeding a period of six months, while the Americans are insisting on a nine-month period, the reports said. Israel is demanding that the Palestinian Authority and Arab states make concessions in exchange for a freeze.

An US administration official told Ha'aretz yesterday that Jerusalem and Washington are close to achieving an understanding on these issues.

"Netanyahu's actions will determine the future of his relationship with President Obama, so this is a crucial trial," an PMO aide said. The Palestinian Authority (PA) reacted angrily to the move, saying it would derail any progress in resuming peace negotiations.

"I think the only thing that will be suspended by this announcement is the peace process," said senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Man, just like India. If people talk nice, they just wouldn't listen. No conscious whatsoever. International laws are crap to them. To them, no international law exists. "Yes we can, so we will do it"
It's a international consensus now that only a thunder slap on the face would make them behave. Sorry, but it seems no alternatives.

This time don't blame the Germans. Germans have warned you recently that if you keep horsing around like there is no tomorrow, it's going to be your political suicide.

I pray you keep it up.