Israel to resume building of settlements

7 Dec 2009, 7:23 am   -   Source: AAP
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PM Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will resume building in settlements in the occupied West Bank when a 10-month moratorium expires next year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will resume building in settlements in the occupied West Bank when a 10-month moratorium expires next year.

Netanyahu, speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, was seeking yet again to allay fears of settler leaders who have threatened to expand protests against the ease in building.

"We made it clear that upon the conclusion of the period of suspension, construction will resume," Netanyahu said. "This is a one-time and temporary decision, not a freeze of unlimited and infinite duration."

Netanyahu called on the settler leaders and politicians who oppose the move to exercise restraint.

"We have to get through this together in the best way possible. I'm saying this not only to the settler leaders and the settlers, but also to the MPs and government ministers - our internal unity is important, maybe the most important thing of all."

Israel agreed to the moratorium amid pressure from Washington, in the hope this would help kickstart peace talks that were suspended during the Gaza war at the turn of the year.

But the Palestinians have rejected the move, saying it fell far short of their demand for a complete halt on settlement activity in the whole West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem.

Netanyahu's moratorium does not include east Jerusalem or the 3,000 homes under construction in the West Bank, or public buildings.

Settler leaders said they would continue to protest the move, fearing it could become permanent.

"Who can guarantee he (Netanyahu) won't give in to American pressure in 10 months?" settler leader Hananel Durani asked on Israel radio.

Durani said he was beaten by police when several dozen protesting settlers scuffled with security forces in the northern West Bank settlement of Kedumim. Police had entered the settlement to accompany government inspectors handing out orders to halt construction.

Two settlers were detained for attacking officers, said police spokesman Gil Elhadad, who denied officers hit Durani.

Meanwhile, police were investigating whether settlers were behind an attack on Palestinians in the village of Einabus, near the city of Nablus, where a house and three vehicles were set on fire overnight.

The owner of the house told police he saw three Jewish settlers start the fires, said Elhadad.

In the past, settlers have attacked Palestinians and their property to avenge Israeli government evacuations of unauthorised settlement outposts.

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