Israeli settlement freeze only "strategic delay," minister says

Sep 6, 2009, 13:33 GMT

Jerusalem - Israel's reported intention to freeze temporarily construction in West Bank settlements was only a 'strategic pause,' a senior Israeli minister said Sunday.

Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Eli Yishai, of the ultra- Orthodox Shas party, added that Israel would still build settlements in East Jerusalem.

He was commenting on reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a temporary freeze in all construction in West Bank settlements, but only after approving the building of hundreds of apartments in the West Bank.

President Barack Obama has demanded that Israel freeze all construction in West Bank settlements. Netanyahu replied that while Israel would not build any new settlements, it would continue with construction in existing ones, to accommodate population expansion, so called 'natural growth.'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has conditioned a restart of suspended peace talks on a total Israeli settlement construction halt.

Israeli officials have been meeting Obama's envoy, George Mitchell, in a bid to resolve the dispute.

A senior Israeli official said Friday that Netanyahu is willing to to consider a moratorium on settlement construction for a 'few months.'

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the temporary moratorium would begin if 'conditions are right.' Among others, Israel is expecting steps toward normalization of ties by Arab states that would include allowing Israeli passenger planes to fly in their airspace and the opening of economic interest sections.

The US has reportedly demanded a construction freeze of one year.

Not included in the proposed Israeli freeze would be construction in Jewish neighbourhoods built within Jerusalem's municipal boundaries - but on occupied West Bank land.

And the construction of some 2,500 homes in various West Bank settlements that are already under way and in different stages of progress would also continue.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Washington 'regretted' the plans for more West Bank settlement construction, which she said was 'inconsistent' with the international roadmap peace plan designed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

On Sunday Netanyahu briefed ministers from his right-wing Likud Party, seeking their support for the proposed freeze. Although Likud ministers said they would support the premier, some party back- benchers are planning to launch a campaign 'to pressure wavering legislators and bring Netanyahu's leftward turn to a halt.'

Ministers from other coalition parties have also spoken out against the freeze.