Settlers demand to see PM
Photo: AP
Settlers demand meeting with Bibi
Yesha Council upset over construction freeze, says not even one plan approved in long months
Yesha Council leaders are demanding an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the issue of a settlement freeze.
The settlers say they are concerned about the "erosion in the government's position on the issue of a construction freeze in Judea and Samaria."
In a letter to the prime minister, Yesha Council Chairman Danny Dayan expressed his concern over recent news reports regarding various forms of construction freeze considered by Israel.
"In fact, we are in the midst of a complete freeze – not even one construction plan had been approved in Judea and Samaria for long months," Dayan wrote. "The government under your leadership embarked on its term in office with the declared intention of returning Jewish settlement to a path of development."
Dayan urged Netanyahu to take into account the pledges made to voters of Likud and most other parties comprising the current coalition.
Barak, Mitchell to meet Monday
Defense Minister Ehud Barak is scheduled to meet with Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, on Monday in a bid to secure agreement on a compromise formula acceptable to both the US and Israel on the question of settlements.The previous meeting between the two figures, in New York, failed to elicit agreement on the contentious front.
However, settler leader Dayan demanded that a meeting with Netanyahu be scheduled ahead of Mitchell's upcoming visit.
"In our view it's essential that you receive a delegation of Jewish settlement leaders in Judea and Samaria…in order to discuss the state of the settlement enterprise and its future," Dayan wrote.
