Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today ruled out the continuation of the settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank, whcih is scheduled to expire on September 26. He did however appear to leave the door open to partial curbs.
The details of these curbs weren’t made clear, but one official said it might be “identical” to what the Olmert Government did, which was to keep most of the approved construction restricted to a few key blocs.
Restarting the construction could well spell an end to the fledgling peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, but failing to restart them could also lead to a revolt within Netanyahu’s Likud Party and the departure of a number of coalition partners, perhaps forcing a new election in Israel.
But the government’s reaction has been harsh to even the suggestion of continuing the freeze, today angrily condemning the “insensitive” EU call for talks to extend the freeze, saying the talks were too close to Yom Kippur to be allowed.
So they'll consider 'partial curbs,' eh!
Given what Israel has done thus far in the West Bank, its idea of a partial curb would probably result in the whole of what's left of the West Bank being covered with illegal settlements within 6 months.
After all, when they bombed Gaza, they claimed to have limited civilians casualties. In fact they killed 1,400 Gazans (400 of them children) so it's just as well they put a limit, eh?
what!!!!!!
peace talks on the day of atonement!
how outrageous,
i mean people are going to be busy begging god for forgiveness for that time they ate some bacon or wore some wool and linen together and you want us to talk about the end to land theft and mass murder!
outrageous secular eu has no respect for such a holy day
Netanyahu's song and dance now sound like an old scratched vinile record that is playing over and over again….it used to draw the crowds but now no one is listening…and what fool would believe any "vow" he would make.