Netanyahu trying to reach deal on settlements with U.S. - Haaretz - Israel News - 0 views
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During his tour of Europe, Netanyahu has so far heard criticism on the issue of the settlements from leaders considered "friends" - starting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and yesterday from French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Advertisement "I am your friend and therefore I am speaking honestly," Sarkozy told Netanyahu during their meeting at the Elysee Palace. "You must conduct confidence building measures and the first must be the absolute freeze on construction in the settlements."
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During his tour of Europe, Netanyahu has so far heard criticism on the issue of the settlements from leaders considered "friends" - starting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and yesterday from French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Advertisement "I am your friend and therefore I am speaking honestly," Sarkozy told Netanyahu during their meeting at the Elysee Palace. "You must conduct confidence building measures and the first must be the absolute freeze on construction in the settlements."
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The proposal that the prime minister is now considering, which Ariel Sharon had previously put forward, is to carry out a "territorial freeze" to settlement activity. In other words, the settlements will not expand onto more territory in an effort to meet the growing needs of settler population without leading to new "facts on the ground," which would stand as an obstacle to the creation of a future Palestinian state. Under this proposal, the only new structures in settlements would be for public functions, like kindergartens or schools.
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"It is possible to resolve the territorial aspect of settlement construction," Netanyahu said yesterday following his meeting with Sarkozy. "It is possible to find a formula but this requires good will of all sides. What is important is to enable people to live normal lives and that is what I am explaining to the Americans."
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Another option that was reported yesterday in Haaretz is a "temporary freeze" of settlement construction, except for projects that have already begun. "The main consideration is how long the freeze will remain in place and whether this may be a precedent that will transform the temporary hiatus into a permanent one," a source close to Netanyahu said.