Netanyahu. 'Very difficult reality'
Photo: Gil Yohanan
PM slams calls for new settlement bids
Netanyahu says Judea and Samaria community heads 'don't understand the reality we they are living in,' advises them to beware 'in order to protect existing construction'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
lost his composure on Monday afternoon during a Likud faction meeting, after Judea and Samaria community heads complained to him over the continuation of the settlement building freeze, claiming that there are not enough construction bids.
"If you don't live in this world you can ignore everything, and I suggest that you beware in order to protect the existing construction, because that's what's on the agenda – not the new construction," the prime minister said during the meeting, which was attended by Ma'ale Adumim Mayor Benny Kasriel, Gush Etzion Council head Shaul Goldstein, Beit Arye Council head Avi Naim and Jordan Valley Regional Council head David Elahiani.
"People don't understand the reality they are living in," Netanyahu told them in response, saying that their statements may affect the existing construction.
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"We all want to support the settlements, so we must not ignore this," Netanyahu said. "We are several weeks after a Quartet resolution and after a US veto and before the next Quartet, so we must take the reality we are living in into consideration when things are changing in the Middle East.
"We can bang our heads against the wall, but that's not what I'm doing. There is construction in Judea and Samaria. It's true that there are no bids in several places, and this is being looked into. We are currently making efforts to maintain the existing construction.
"We are living in a very difficult international reality, and even the American veto at the Security Council was achieved after great efforts. We can ignore everything and say there is no problem, but as a prime minister responsible for this country – the overall responsibility is mine," Netanyahu concluded.
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