Netanyahu Dismisses US Demands of East Jerusalem Construction Freeze
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned down the demands of the US to freeze construction in East Jerusalem, said media reports citing his bureau.
The Prime Minister’s Bureau confirmed the rejection of American demands while responding to a Wall Street Journal report that Netanyahu’s government had delivered over the weekend its most substantive response yet to that US request, reports said.
On March 23, Obama reportedly demanded an East Jerusalem construction freeze, among other things, during White House meeting with Netanyahu.
Obama administration waited for his reply while Netanyahu deliberated with his top ministers on possible confidence-building measures for revival of peace talks with the Palestinians.
Some reports said that during the March meeting, Netanyahu did agree to a number of peace-building measures, including the release of some Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel, an ease on Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip and efforts toward improving Palestinian movement in the West Bank.
Besides, the Netyanyahu government expressed willingness to hold discussions on final borders and the future of Jerusalem in the next round of negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, reports said.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the Netanyahu position very unfortunate and said that he hoped the US would be able to convince the Israeli government to give peace a chance by halting settlement construction in East Jerusalem and elsewhere.
(Based on internet reports)
