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Last update - 01:09 05/09/2009
U.S. 'regrets' Netanyahu plan to approve new West Bank homes
By Barak Ravid, Avi Issacharoff and Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondents, and DPA
Tags: West Bank, Netanyahu 

The White House on Friday said it "regretted" reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to approve of the construction of hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements.

"We regret the reports of Israel's plans to approve additional settlement construction," the White House statement said. "Continued settlement activity is inconsistent with Israel's commitment under the road map."

The White House added that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama "does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement expansion and we urge that it stop. We are working to create a climate in which negotiations can take place, and such actions make it harder to create such a climate."
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Earlier Friday, a senior government source had reported that Netanyahu was to approve the construction of hundreds of new housing units in West Bank settlements before he declares a moratorium on building in those locales.

The source from the prime minister's bureau said Thursday night that the premier informed U.S. officials of his decision to authorize the construction a few weeks ago.

The immediate future of construction in West Bank settlements will be determined in talks between Israeli officials and the U.S. Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, who will visit Israel next week. The issue could be decided during Mitchell's two-day visit, which will begin on Thursday, according to the source.

"The U.S. commitment to Israel's security is and will remain unshakeable," the White House statement reiterated on Friday. "We believe it can best be achieved through comprehensive peace in the region, including a two-state solution with a Palestinian state living side by side in peace with Israel."

However, it added that the U.S. government's objective "remains to resume meaningful negotiations as soon as possible in pursuit of this goal."

The U.S. is working with all parties - Israelis, Palestinians, and Arab states - on the steps they must take to achieve that objective, the White House statement said.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said Mitchell and the Israelis had been having a very open dialogue in very intense discussions. He would not elaborate.

But one U.S. official familiar with Mitchell's Wednesday meeting in New York with Netanyahu envoy Yitzhak Molcho and Israeli Defense Ministry chief of staff Michael Herzog said the Israelis told Mitchell they were going to do it, and he told them they could expect a sharp response.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic exchange, said the meeting had not gone well.

The official added that the White House statement was released before a formal Israeli announcement of Netanyahu's plans because we wanted to send a strong signal early on.

‫J Street, the left-wing pro-Israel lobby, said it is deeply dismayed by reports of Netanyahu's planned approval of additional settlement construction in the West Bank.

"We share President Obama's concern that continued settlement growth will make it impossible to achieve a negotiated, peaceful two-state solution to the conflict, which is critical to Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic homeland," said the group's staement.

"It is only with the establishment of permanent and recognized borders as part of a comprehensive peace agreement that we best serve the long-term interests of Israel, the Palestinians and the United States.‬"

A spokesman for Peace Now on Friday also commended the White House stance. "We reiterate that a settlement freeze is not just in the interest of the United States. First and foremost, it is in the national security interest of Israel," said Ori Nir, Americans for Peace Now spokesman.

"Settlements are detrimental to Israel. They constitute a burden to Israel's security services. They create points of friction between Israelis and Palestinians. They drain Israel's financial resources. They create an impression that Israelis are not interested in a two-state solution," added Nir.

EU foreign ministers, Abbas condemn Israeli plan

EU foreign ministers on Friday condemned the announcement by Israel that it will construct new housing units in West Bank settlements.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the new construction has been criticized by all 27 EU ministers.

The foreign ministers are holding two-day talks in Stockholm that started Friday.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband reiterated EU calls for a complete settlement freeze to spur the restart of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he is hopeful those negotiations can be relaunched in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York later this month.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier on Friday said Netanyahu's planned approval of the West Bank construction is "unacceptable."

"What the Israeli government said [about the planned construction] is not useful," Abbas said after a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "It is unacceptable for us. We want a freeze on all settlement construction."

Abbas also told journalists that a possible summit meeting with Netanyahu and Obama in New York, on the margins of a UN General Assembly meeting, depended on "steps that are taken beforehand regarding a settlement construction freeze."

Abbas also said he would not meet with Netanyahu until construction in the settlements is halted - a position he has expressed in the past.

The Palestinian president added, after a meeting with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, that the entire Mideast peace process depended on a freeze of Israeli settlement construction.

The majority of members of Fatah, the Palestinian faction that Abbas heads, oppose renewing talks with Israel while it is building in the West Bank. The Palestinians are also seeking a total freeze on construction in East Jerusalem.

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat Palestinian Authority also criticized the move on Friday, saying it would derail any progress in peace negotiations.

"I think the only thing that will be suspended by this announcement is the peace process," said Erekat.

Aides to Netanyahu said on Friday said he would be willing to consider a temporary freeze in settlement construction, but that the suspension would not include East Jerusalem.

The hundreds of units whose construction Netanyahu is expected to approve will join some 2,500 housing units currently being built, whose construction also will not be halted.

In closed talks, Netanyahu has said that he will be prepared to go ahead with the move to promote Obama's peace plan and jump-start stalled peace talks.

"The Americans do not agree with [the approval of new housing units] and are not happy about it, but we put it on the table a long time ago," the source told Haaretz.

The precise length of the moratorium is still subject to debate, and the U.S. and Israel are negotiating on this issue. Netanyahu does not agree to a freeze exceeding a period of six months, while the Americans are insisting on a nine-month period.

The source added that several Arab states have pledged gestures toward Israel, including opening Israeli diplomatic missions in their territory, holding senior-level meetings between Arab leaders and Israeli counterparts, holding direct telephone conversations between leaders of Arab states and Israeli leaders, and El Al flights to Arab airports.

"A deal with Israel on the issue of construction in the settlements is crucial," the source added. "Netanyahu's actions will determine the future of his relationship with President Obama, so this is a crucial trial."

Likud MK Eitan: Party must unite behind Netanyahu

Likud MK Michael Eitan called on his fellow party members to remain united behind Netanyahu's leadership as "past experience conclusively proves that any divisions, acts of rebellion or splintering have brought on the demise of the national camp."

Moreover, Eitan said, the demise of a government supporting West Bank settlements, also brought on the "rise of an administration interested in its eradication."

Eitan added that while an "open democratic debate on this important issue is legitimate and important, but eventually, under current circumstances and international constraints, only a united Likud led by Netanyahu can steer Israel's policy in the best way for its people."

The Yesha Council of Settlements said it wished to remond the public that "Netanyahu had pledged to the Israeli voter to return building in Samaria and Judea to a path of development."

"Several hundred housing units, even if they were to be approved, do not change the fact that a settlement freeze will cause far-reaching political damage," the Yesha council said, adding that "when the roar of the festivals dies down, all that is left is a freeze of settlement construction, one brought on by a prime minister from the national camp."

Ophir Pines-Paz, a dovish lawmaker whose Labor Party is part of Netanyahu's coalition, said Friday that issuing new building permits was unnecessary and damaging.

"I fear that issuing new permits will foil the next step - a settlement freeze that would build confidence and allow negotiations to resume," he said.

Related articles:
  • Israel hints it may retroactively legalize settlement construction
  • Settler leaders: Netanyahu government 'humiliating' us
  • Abbas: No peace talks without full settlement freeze
  • U.S. turns up heat on Israel over settlements
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      1.   WOE AND GOD`S JUDGEMENT ON ALL NATIONS WHO DIVIDE ISRAEL ? 04:44  |  BILL 04/09/09
      2.   Kindergartens 04:51  |  Bazmann 04/09/09
      3.   What a joke! 05:37  |  Adam 04/09/09
      4.   HALELUYA 05:41  |  flower 04/09/09
      5.   Wow, Bill 06:02  |  steve 04/09/09
      6.   More BS 06:03  |  Ben 04/09/09
      7.   You just don`t get it do you??? 06:04  |  Rollin 04/09/09
      8.   Prepare to give it up 06:21  |  Judge 04/09/09
      9.   Bibi spits in World 06:24  |  Marc Leb 04/09/09
      10.   ...and the Extreme Jews rejoice! 06:28  |  Marc Leb 04/09/09
      11.   Israel and the real World! 06:34  |  Raphael 04/09/09
      12.   Same as Ceasefire excluding the ceasing of fire 06:34  |  ahmed 04/09/09
      13.   Netanyahu approves WB building 07:00  |  dee 04/09/09
      14.   Absolutely ludicrous 07:07  |  Ramzi Jaber 04/09/09
      15.   Bibi against the world 07:08  |  peter rouget 04/09/09
      16.   "Netanyahu to okay hundreds of new West Bank homes" 07:19  |  Esther 04/09/09
      17.   Israel does not want peace. 07:30  |  RG 04/09/09
      18.   OUR Land: We Build 07:35  |  Yishai Kohen 04/09/09
      19.   i love this so much, go bibi go 07:59  |  VIPER 04/09/09
      20.   The demand that Jews only freez construction is racist in nature 08:13  |  Eitan 04/09/09
      21.   Why not permitted housing development - - - 08:18  |  JW 04/09/09
      22.   Another building project might be more urgent 08:18  |  harvey 04/09/09
      23.   My G-d! He is listening to the people who voted for him! 08:23  |  Binyamin Dissen 04/09/09
      24.   judge 08:37  |  NL 04/09/09
      25.   Marc Leb No 10 08:48  |  Jackie 04/09/09
      26.   Jews out of the West Bank! 09:01  |  MarkC 04/09/09
      27.   bibi wants his cake and eat it too 09:07  |  pesach avrum 04/09/09
      28.   a laughing stock among nations 09:46  |  Space 04/09/09
      29.   Will the Palestinians also freeze? 09:50  |  Zev 04/09/09
      30.   Israel must get away from its "tricky" image...... 09:52  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/09/09
      31.   Blah blah 10:33  |  Ryan 04/09/09
      32.   How can that be a freeze? 10:42  |  GaileeHero 04/09/09
      33.   no freeze 11:24  |  ombudsman 04/09/09
      34.   #23 No, he isn`t, Binyamin Dissen 12:01  |  Johnboy 04/09/09
      35.   Ethnic Cleansing 12:13  |  Erik 04/09/09
      36.   Pointing out the pea and thimble trick.... 12:18  |  Johnboy 04/09/09
      37.   Eating the pizza and then dividing it? 12:51  |  Raffa 04/09/09
      38.   facts on the ground 12:52  |  khairi janbek 04/09/09
      39.   if i may go back to the sweden problem 12:58  |  ombudsman 04/09/09
      40.   A deliberate leak 13:06  |  Roger Bannister 04/09/09
      41.   political games 13:12  |  shimi 04/09/09
      42.   Equal vs Equal. 13:24  |  Sarah 04/09/09
      43.   "an end to all settlement activity." The Road Map 13:27  |  Sarahgit 04/09/09
      44.   Freeze or no 13:29  |  Hilda 04/09/09
      45.   FREEZE 13:36  |  OZ 04/09/09
      46.   Yishai Kohen... one question for you 13:42  |  Had enough 04/09/09
      47.   Dino (Swiss) 14:08  |  Real Swiss 04/09/09
      48.   Thank G-d! You go Bibi! 14:26  |  petra 04/09/09
      49.   Pipe Dream 14:29  |  Bazmann 04/09/09
      50.   The road to hell 14:38  |  Rachel Rabin 04/09/09
      51.   falling into the trap 14:56  |  Sarahgit 04/09/09
      52.   And You Wonder Why The World Hates Israel? 15:23  |  Boyd 04/09/09
      53.   pressure on Israel mounting 15:27  |  Ernst 04/09/09
      54.   1948 partition 15:38  |  sam i am 04/09/09
      55.   Why should we stop building? 15:57  |  Ki`emli 04/09/09
      56.   Abbas 16:02  |  fredyr 04/09/09
      57.   Getting Israel to the table 18:18  |  Dave Duncan 04/09/09
      58.   bibi talk with forked tongue 18:24  |  peter AR 04/09/09
      59.   Bibi can`t even think of new tricks anymore. Same old ones... 18:39  |  S 04/09/09
      60.   Expand! 19:00  |  Bob 04/09/09
      61.   west bank construction 19:03  |  shimshon kinory 04/09/09
      62.   Again and Again and Again and Again and Over Again 19:05  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/09/09
      63.   If for this exemplary scoundrel this means "freeze", then ... 19:06  |  zmogus 04/09/09
      64.   Jackie 19:08  |  mariapalestina 04/09/09
      65.   When will this policy of expansion ends? 19:11  |  Honor and Pride 04/09/09
      66.   Netanyahu has no mandate to discriminate against Jews 19:14  |  Realist 04/09/09
      67.   Shut up USA, you lost your moral word when feared Putin statement 19:16  |  Jose Pedro 04/09/09
      68.   DONT BLAME BIBI THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FOR HIM TO SURVIVE 19:17  |  zionist forever 04/09/09
      69.   But no regrets Brits released the Lockerbie bombings 19:17  |  Absolute Sweden 04/09/09
      70.   Israel land must be protected, the jewish majority must rein in 19:22  |  Jose Pedro 04/09/09
      71.   To # 3 - its not a joke- Thats Israeli policy... 19:30  |  Dan 04/09/09
      72.   Specialty 19:31  |  Bazmann 04/09/09
      73.   the messiah "regrets" 19:35  |  Mark 04/09/09
      74.   Accept that we keep Jerusalem United and other contruction stops! 19:38  |  ben 04/09/09
      75.   White House `regrets`? 19:47  |  Brod 04/09/09
      76.   Johnboy # 34 Bibi`s "Delivery" Appears Pretty "Actual" To Me 19:47  |  Jeff Northridge 04/09/09
      77.   to sam i am... i agree 20:07  |  ben 04/09/09
      78.   If Netanyahu goes ahead with this 20:11  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/09/09
      79.   Keeping peace at bay 20:13  |  Colin Wright 04/09/09
      80.   No wonder Jews have a problem worldwide 20:31  |  Keith T 04/09/09
      81.   This Will Not End Well 20:34  |  Stephen 04/09/09
      82.   to Ki`emli #55 20:35  |  zeev 04/09/09
      83.   I`m just trying to understand what stlmnt freeze mean 20:41  |  Ice 04/09/09
      84.   Netanyahu does what is right. He is a great leader! 20:55  |  Jason 04/09/09
      85.   continued building 20:56  |  TC 04/09/09
      86.   to fredyr #56 - the right term 20:57  |  zeev 04/09/09
      87.   So let`s get it straight 21:09  |  jackie 04/09/09
      88.   for JW 21:12  |  jackie 04/09/09
      89.   Israelis building in West Bank 21:17  |  Mark 04/09/09
      90.   Housing Monitor 21:23  |  cwarn 04/09/09
      91.   # 11 21:23  |  Tom 04/09/09
      92.   help me understand.. 2nd try 21:26  |  Ice 04/09/09
      93.   # 22 harvey 21:33  |  Agua 04/09/09
      94.   The US & international community have to chag course 21:38  |  Dror 04/09/09
      95.   This is my land. 21:42  |  Dudka 04/09/09
      96.   Its Jewish Land silly 21:43  |  Baruch Gold 04/09/09
      97.   U.S. regrets Netanyah plan to approve West Bank Homes 21:45  |  Carole Keningsberg 04/09/09
      98.   gotta hand it to isreal 21:46  |  Kevin 04/09/09
      99.   Netanyahu won`t freeze settlements 22:06  |  Chris Linthwaite 04/09/09
      100.   You will lose American support 22:12  |  Lenny 04/09/09
      101.   A great victory for Hamas, Hezbollah, and their sponsors... 22:25  |  Mariano 04/09/09
      102.   Why `regrets` 22:49  |  The Teacher/Instruct 04/09/09
      103.   Obama`s Issue 23:07  |  Col [Res] Cohen 04/09/09
      104.   To Dudka 23:14  |  Elpidio Valdez 04/09/09
      105.   Obama approves of the settlements 23:20  |  Hector 04/09/09
      106.   US regrets 23:22  |  mpe 04/09/09
      107.   harvey #22 23:23  |  Jasper 04/09/09
      108.   4`th Genevea convention, Art. 39 23:32  |  Michael 04/09/09
      109.   Elpido Valadez 23:43  |  The Teacher/instruct 04/09/09
      110.   "Regret" is a special brand of kid gloves 00:03  |  David 05/09/09
      111.   Re. 68 Valdez 00:12  |  Dudka 05/09/09
      112.   Idiocy 00:14  |  Steve Wayne 05/09/09
      113.   Barry Soetoro the fascist 00:33  |  keren 05/09/09
      114.   #11 00:48  |  Harold 05/09/09
      115.   Stop signing those checks Obama... 00:49  |  Marc Leb 05/09/09
      116.   #13 00:50  |  Harold 05/09/09
      117.   Can`t reward intransigence 01:06  |  RfaelMoshe 05/09/09
      118.   Liberated Territory, Build, Build, Build!!! 02:07  |  PeterAlexanderTulin 05/09/09
      119.   A well-deserved slap in Obama`s face. 02:19  |  flyingdoc57 05/09/09
      120.   Keep it up, Bibi 02:23  |  Gully Foyle 05/09/09
      121.   to fredyr #56 - 2nd try 02:49  |  zeev 05/09/09
      122.   Regrets...........I had a few!!! 02:57  |  Westwell 05/09/09
      123.   We all regret this! 03:08  |  WHG 05/09/09
      124.   to RfaelMoshe #80 03:09  |  zeev 05/09/09
      125.   Unhelpful to Regrettable 03:15  |  Ice 05/09/09
      126.   Michael #72 03:34  |  Raphael 05/09/09
      127.   harold 03:38  |  mpe 05/09/09
      128.   #72 Michael, perhaps you had better read it again. 03:59  |  Johnboy 05/09/09
      129.   regretfully, things Israel wants oddly won`t happen 04:50  |  binny 05/09/09
      130.   That`s Great!!! Its Nothing for Nothing!!! 04:59  |  Edward 05/09/09
      131.   Not only that, next time Bibi and Obama meet 05:12  |  Hobo 05/09/09
      132.   occupied teritories? 05:25  |  Moshe 05/09/09
      133.   Isarel vs. World: Israel=0 / World 1 05:49  |  Rachel Rabin 05/09/09
      134.   #96 Wrong questions, Moshe 06:04  |  Johnboy 05/09/09
      135.   blackmail works both ways 06:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/09/09
      136.   Only a minority in the US support Obama 06:40  |  US CITIZEN 05/09/09
      137.   Groan.... 06:41  |  Larry 05/09/09
      138.   Keep building Israel and keep digging your grave 06:51  |  Joe 05/09/09
      139.   #69 zeev 06:53  |  Der Zweifler 05/09/09
      140.   How delicately put 07:19  |  Mark Lincoln 05/09/09
      141.   Israel survival 07:38  |  Joe Powers 05/09/09
      142.   118 Cipora - Iran No Threat to US 07:40  |  Mark of Lewiston 05/09/09
      143.   God`s judgement 07:41  |  Palestinian Brit 05/09/09
      144.   Rafael on intransigence 07:47  |  Palestinian Brit 05/09/09
      145.   Occupying Power? (I get it Johnboy, Raphael) 08:03  |  Michael 05/09/09
      146.   #128 A very odd definition of "blackmail", Cipora 08:17  |  Johnboy 05/09/09
      147.   Let the ethnic cleansing continue... 08:34  |  peacelover 05/09/09
      148.   one state solution is the solution 08:47  |  just facts 05/09/09
      149.   to Michael #145 11:07  |  zeev 05/09/09
      150.   Marching on to the political & physical destruction of Israel ! 11:13  |  David Dick 05/09/09
      151.   LET ISRAEL GO ON ITS OWN WAY 11:26  |  FRED 05/09/09
      152.   Iranian nukes wanted more than ever 13:56  |  rob 05/09/09
      153.   #35 Erik and like minded thinkers. 16:08  |  John 05/09/09
      154.   Israel needs statesman not politicians 16:29  |  John R 05/09/09
      155.   johnboy yes we do dissemble 16:30  |  ombudsman 05/09/09
      156.   #150 David Dick and `arrogance`. 16:33  |  John 05/09/09
      157.   rob "i want iranian nukes against israel" 16:34  |  ombudsman 05/09/09
      158.   israel`s salvation from its present adversary 16:40  |  ombudsman 05/09/09
      159.   johnboy "did your army seize it" 16:45  |  ombudsman 05/09/09
      160.   O`Bama`s Construction Transparancy 16:47  |  RichFromTampa 05/09/09
      161.   tragedy in afghanistan 17:01  |  ombudsman 05/09/09
      162.   so much doublketalk 17:27  |  edgar 05/09/09
      163.   Not negotiating in good faith 17:34  |  American 05/09/09
      164.   #155 That`s the wrong word, ombudsman 17:51  |  Johnboy 05/09/09
      165.   #136 - Only a minority in the US support Obama 18:00  |  Gully Foyle 05/09/09
      166.   Wonder why?? 18:06  |  Felix Martin 05/09/09
      167.   and just think 18:19  |  edgar 05/09/09
      168.   Israel doing what it does best---shunning Peace. 18:45  |  Labhras 05/09/09
      169.   It`s up to Israelis 18:53  |  charlie 05/09/09
      170.   Who is the Terrorist? 19:09  |  Vladek 05/09/09
      171.   David Dick # 150 Dire Predictions 19:10  |  Jeff Northridge 05/09/09
      172.   johnboy and "the king of the jews" 19:13  |  ombudsman 05/09/09
      173.   felix "the world dislikes you" 19:23  |  ombudsman 05/09/09
      174.   #165--Gully Foyle--All politics are local 19:58  |  US CITIZEN 05/09/09
      175.   #151--Fred--What`s the difference from India/Pakistan? 20:08  |  US CITIZEN 05/09/09
      176.   Illegal under International Laws = Begin Sanctioning Israel 20:20  |  Jacob 05/09/09
      177.   To the US, nobody cares about your regrets 20:22  |  Billy T 05/09/09
      178.   Look at the numbers Kevin, 98 20:25  |  Ki`emli 05/09/09
      179.   When will Obama put his money where his mouth is? 20:32  |  arik 05/09/09
      180.   #78 Chris L 21:24  |  leoblue 05/09/09
      181.   All Isralel is in WB, including Tel Aviv 21:35  |  Towncrier 05/09/09
      182.   Izaak and Ismael-- Jacob and Esau 22:09  |  Terah, abu Abram 05/09/09
      183.   #151, FRED 22:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 05/09/09
      184.   Why does this talkback print perfectly ridiculous tripe #173?! 22:34  |  Esther 05/09/09
      185.   Peacelover, what ethnic cleansing? 22:55  |  Peter Williams 05/09/09
      186.   re: what a joke! 00:21  |  Jim 06/09/09
      187.   US must move in UNSC and impose peace! 01:04  |  American 06/09/09
      188.   174 Cipora - Germany & US Fighting in Afghanistan 01:09  |  Mark of Lewiston 06/09/09
      189.   Statement of "regrets" accomplishes nothing. If anything, 06:11  |  Jozef 06/09/09
      190.   The whole world is against Israel anyways 06:30  |  WakeUp 06/09/09
      191.   #184 Mark of Lewiston 19:00  |  Der Zweifler 06/09/09
      192.   to Yishai Kohen #18 - 5th try 09:39  |  zeev 07/09/09
      193.   to Der Zweifler #139 - 3rd try 09:43  |  zeev 07/09/09
      194.   #192 zeev 12:36  |  Der Zweifler 07/09/09
      195.   to Moshe #132 - learn history (4th try) 09:32  |  zeev 08/09/09
      196.   Occupied 06:23  |  Moshe 10/09/09
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