Israel Proposes
10-Month West Bank Settlement Freeze
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
has proposed a 10-month freeze on
West Bank settlement construction
in an attempt to jumpstart stalled Mideast peace talks.
Netanyahu's proposals are to
be tabled before the Security Cabinet later on Wednesday.
The proposal as contained in
a statement provides that the freeze would not include
east Jerusalem, the area of the
holy city claimed by the Palestinians for a future capital.
Netanyahu has already floated
the idea, but he has never given a firm time commitment such as
in Wednesday's announcement.
Reaction
The Palestinians say the
offer is unacceptable because it does not include east
Jerusalem.
The Palestinians refuse to
reopen peace talks with Israel
until it halts all settlement construction.
Palestinian negotiator
Saeb Erekat says any freeze that
does not include east Jerusalem is unacceptable.
AP/Yinka
