Obama ‘Encouraged’ by Israel Settlement Policy

Amid Criticism Netanyahu Denies Freeze

President Barack Obama says he is “encouraged” by Israel’s current stance on its West Bank settlements, as while they have repeatedly rebuffed the US on its call for a freeze, officials say they have refused to issue new housing permits over the past few months in something Housing Minister Atlas called a “waiting period.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies that the government has frozen its construction, a position which would be politically unpopular in his right-far-right coalition government. At the same time, the US has soften its call for a freeze, willing to make it a one-year freeze only.

But his position of ambiguity has still gained him harsh condemnation from within the settlements, and a warning that if the “waiting period” continues the government’s days could be numbered. Netanyahu had promised to continue the expansion of the settlements during his campaign, and much of his own party has repeatedly warned that it will not brook anything close to a freeze.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.