'Wait for signals.' Begin
Photo: Gil Yohanan
'The right move.' Yaalon
Photo: AP
Hardliners defend vote for settlement construction freeze
Rightist ministers stress that West Bank construction will resume following 10-month moratorium. Begin claims cabinet's decision merely 'limitation on new building permits,' while Lieberman says, 'We have a commitment to Israel's allies, who supported us on the Goldstone Report issue, not to the PA'
Minister Benny Begin, a staunch advocate of the settlement enterprise, said that during Wednesday's vote the security cabinet did not approve a temporary freeze of Israeli construction in the West Bank, but rather "limitations on new building permits."
Earlier, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a press conference that Israel will freeze construction in the West Bank for a 10-month period in a bid to jumpstart the peace talks with the Palestinians.
West Bank Construction
Eleven ministers vote in favor of Netanyahu's proposal to halt construction in West Bank for 10-month period in bid to jumpstart peace talks. Eleven ministers vote in favor of initiative; two Shas ministers absent. PM says, 'I hope Arab world will seize this opportunity to promote peace.' Palestinian reject move because freeze does not include construction in east Jerusalem
Begin said, "During these 10 months thousands of housing units and public buildings will be built in the West Bank to allow (settlers) to lead normal lives, and once the 10 months are over the government of Israel, just as it has declared, will resume construction in the West Bank in accordance with the policy of past Israeli regimes."
Asked about the Palestinian response to the moratorium, Begin said, "It is regretful that our neighbors are not heeding any request, even those made by the US and the European countries, to join direct negotiations without preconditions in an effort to reach an agreement."
The minister said he was not certain whether the Israeli move would result in renewed peace talks, but added, "We have to wait for signals. A this moment they are not promising, but we should wait a few weeks to see if anyone has any influence on the (Palestinian) leadership."
'This is our homeland'
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman commented on the settlement freeze issue during the cabinet meeting and said that Israel has a commitment to Jewish settlers in the West Bank. "At the end of 10 months we shall resume construction," Lieberman said.
"We've been more than fair with the Palestinian Authority (PA), both in our intentions to resume negotiations and in actions on the ground, including the removal of roadblocks (in the West Bank), investments and cooperation with (Quartet envoy Tony) Blair.
"We've allowed this irresponsible group to hold the Fatah convention, where decisions that do not differ from those upheld by Hamas were reached," said the FM.
"We have a commitment to Israel's allies, who supported us on the Goldstone Report issue, not to the PA. We also have a committed to the Jewish settlers in the West Bank, so we must reiterate that construction will be resumed at the conclusion of the 10-month period," he said.
Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said the purpose of Netanyahu's initiative was to "avoid a confrontation with our allies," but added that "the goal is to preserve our interests."
"The partial freeze, which allows the construction of public buildings and building in Jerusalem, is the correct move," he said.
National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau, the only minister to vote against the construction freeze, warned that the US will reiterate its demand to stop construction at the end of the moratorium.
"They should be told that this is our homeland and our country," he said.
