(Prime Minister's Office) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - On Wednesday, "my cabinet authorized a policy of restraint regarding settlements which will include a suspension of new permits and new construction in Judea and Samaria for a period of ten months....We hope that this decision will help launch meaningful peace negotiations to reach a historic peace agreement that will finally end the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel....We have been told by many friends that once Israel takes the first step towards peace, the Palestinians and the Arab world would respond positively with steps of their own to create a virtuous cycle of goodwill." "I have already said that we will not build new settlements and that we would not expropriate additional land for existing settlements....I promised to enable normal life to continue for the three hundred thousand Israeli citizens, our brothers and sisters, who live in Judea and Samaria. That is why this suspension will not affect construction currently underway....Regarding Jerusalem, our sovereign capital...we do not put any restrictions on building in our sovereign capital."
2009-11-26 08:14:55Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive