Israel announces 10-month West Bank settlement freeze to revive peace talks with Palestinians

November 26, 2009 9:08 am 

JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday evening announced a 10-month freeze on construction in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, saying the move was in an effort to revive the peace talks with the Palestinians.

"I hope that this decision will help launch meaningful negotiations to reach a historic peace agreement that would finally end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians," Netanyahu said at a special press conference in Jerusalem.

"We have been told by many of our friends that once Israel takes the first meaningful steps toward peace, the Palestinians and Arab states would respond," he said.

Settlement construction has been a key sticking point in U.S. efforts to restart the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which have been suspended since Israeli army's Operation Cast Lead last winter in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

The Palestinians have refused to engage in peace talks until Israel freezes settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of a state.

However, Netanyahu said at the press conference that the construction freeze would not be implemented in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem, which is viewed by Israel as a separate issue to be discussed in a final status agreement with the Palestinians.

"We do not put any restrictions on building in our sovereign capital," said the premier.

The freeze will also not apply to construction that has already been authorized or to work on public buildings conducive to normal life in the West Bank settlements.

Netanyahu called on the Palestinians to enter into a new round of peace talks.

"Now is the time to begin negotiations, now is the time to move forward towards peace," he said. "Israel today has taken a far- reaching step toward peace, it is time for the Palestinians to do the same."

Netanyahu's announcement came shortly after Israeli security cabinet approved the 10-month freeze on construction in the West Bank settlements.

At the cabinet vote, National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau from Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel is our home) was the only minister to oppose the move, reported local daily Ha'aretz.

Shortly before the security cabinet session, Netanyahu said the freeze would prove that Israel genuinely seeks to reach peace with the Palestinians. (PNA/Xinhua)

ALM/ebp

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