Likud ministers support anti-Bibi campaign

Settlers get permission to use quotes by Likud members in campaign meant to press Bibi to allow West Bank construction

Yuval Karni|Published: 03.04.11 , 21:22

In recent days, most Likud ministers expressed their objection to the restrained construction in Judea Samaria announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yet as it turns out, some ministers went even further, permitting settler leaders to use their quotes against the building slowdown in a Yesha Council campaign meant to press Netanyahu, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday.

Earlier this week, the prime minister stressed that American pressure and Israel's standing in the world do not allow the Jewish state to embark on unrestrained West Bank construction. However, Likud ministers have since made it clear that Netanyahu is in the minority within his own party.

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Some of the ministers made their comments in talks held with settler leaders.

"Construction must be resumed immediately," Minister Yisrael Katz said, while Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom stressed that "the time has come to renew construction on the practical level."

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said in closed-door talks with settler heads that "we must allow for natural development and normal lives." Elsewhere, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said that "the freeze is over and we must go back to building."

Now, the Yesha Council intends to use the damning quotes in a campaign aimed at pressing Netanyahu to allow more construction.