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These Palestinians Aren't Happy about Israel Settlement Freeze
(Christian Science Monitor) Ilene R. Prusher - Normally, about half of Jalazon's able-bodied men are employed in construction in nearby Jewish settlements. But since Prime Minister Netanyahu, under pressure from President Obama, announced the settlement building freeze in October, much of the work has disappeared. While, theoretically, the 10-month freeze on building in Israeli settlements in the West Bank was supposed to benefit the Palestinian cause, in the short-term, thousands of Palestinians who work in construction are feeling the pinch. "Work in the settlements has decreased dramatically in the last few months - it's nothing like it was before. But our lives haven't changed for the better and the leaders aren't any closer to peace, so what's the point?" says Walid Mustafa, a father of seven who says he's lucky to find work one day a month. "The settlement freeze has only brought more poverty," complains Abdel Aziz Othman.