Share
Email
PrintBibi: No complete settlement freeze
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there will not be a complete freeze on building in the settlements.
"The Palestinians expect a complete halt to building; it is now clear that this will not happen," Netanyahu told a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday, according to Israeli media reports. "Jerusalem is not a settlement and construction will go on as planned."
Netanyahu said he told American officials that Israel would continue building 2,500 apartments on which construction had already started, as well as the 450 apartments authorized last week.
Netanyahu told the committee that he has been working toward advancing peace with the Palestinians, pointing to the removal of many roadblocks and checkpoints in the West Bank as well as the opening of the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank for more hours a day.
The Israeli leader postponed a meeting scheduled for Monday with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell to attend the funeral of Israeli pilot Assaf Ramon, son of the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who was killed Sunday in a flight accident.
Click to login and write a letter to the editor or sign up for the Daily Briefing.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Featured Content
Need to know? Get JTA's free e-newsletters!
- ‘Shoah’ director Lanzmann denies sexually harassing Israeli airport guard
- Peace Now’s Jerusalem office is vandalized
- Israeli tourist released from Chile jail
- Bagels regain bread status in Ireland
- Larry Greenfield tapped to lead JINSA
- Senators to urge Obama to make Iranian nukes ‘capability’ a red line
- Napolitano to Jewish leaders: No imminent threat of attack
- Pro-Palestinian Presbyterians close Facebook page after complaints
