Israel seeks more settlement freeze enforcers
JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister is expanding his force of West Bank construction inspectors to enforce a settlement freeze declared by the government.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered his office Sunday to train 40 inspectors to make sure the settlement freeze is observed. Only 14 inspectors are deployed there now.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week announced a 10-month moratorium on new housing construction in the West Bank to help jump-start peace talks. Settler leaders have vowed to defy the order.
About 300,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, an area Palestinians claim for a future state.
The Palestinians have said the freeze is insufficient because it does not include east Jerusalem, their would-be capital, or stop projects already under way.
Related News
Abbas: Palestinians can't accept Israel's approach in seeking to restart negotiationsNovember 27th, 2009 Abbas says Israeli settlement freeze not enoughCARACAS, Venezuela — Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas dismissed an Israeli plan to halt new construction of West Bank settlements as insufficient on Friday, saying it won't be enough to restart peace talks. The Palestinian president said during his first visit to Venezuela that "we can't accept the current Israeli government's concept for the negotiations."
Abbas said Wednesday's announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a 10-month halt to new construction in West Bank Jewish settlements "didn't bring anything new" because construction would continue in east Jerusalem and in the West Bank regardless of a freeze on new settlement building.
After settlement freeze announcement, Israeli foreign minister says ball in Palestinian courtNovember 26th, 2009 Israel's FM says peace depends on PalestiniansJERUSALEM — Israel's foreign minister said Thursday it is up to the Palestinians to decide whether to resume Mideast peace talks now that Israel has announced a settlement freeze. Avigdor Lieberman told Israel's Army Radio that the "ball is in the Palestinian court."
His comments came a day after Israel proposed a 10-month halt in West Bank settlement construction, which the Palestinians swiftly rejected because it did not include east Jerusalem.
Obama administration welcomes Israeli announcement of moratorium in West Bank settlementsNovember 25th, 2009 US welcomes Israeli settlement moratoriumWASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Wednesday welcomed Israel's decision to temporarily freeze new construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank as a step toward resolving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued an approving statement moments after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in Jerusalem the launching of a 10-month moratorium.
US peace envoy welcomes Israeli announcement of moratorium in West Bank settlement buildingNovember 25th, 2009 US envoy welcomes Israeli settlement moratoriumWASHINGTON — The Obama administration's special Mideast envoy is welcoming an Israeli announcement of a 10-month freeze for new construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. George Mitchell, who has led administration efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, said the announced moratorium falls short of a full settlement freeze.
Israel offers 10-month West Bank settlement freeze, Palestinians cool to ideaNovember 25th, 2009 Israel offers 10-month West Bank settlement freezeJERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a 10-month freeze on West Bank settlement construction in what he says is an attempt to jumpstart Mideast peace talks. Netanyahu's office released a statement saying he would bring the proposal to his Security Cabinet later Wednesday.
