Israel rejects U.S. settlement freeze proposal without written guarantees

[ 17/11/2010 – 10:29 AM ]

 

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)– Israel has delayed its agreement to the U.S. proposed three-month settlement freeze in the West Bank due to vagueness in the offer.

The Hebrew state is demanding that its ally offer written guarantees before the issue is discussed and voted on.

Understandings were reportedly reached earlier between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while meeting in New York.

The Americans were unclear in their proposal, offering that agreements achieved within the three-month settlement freeze would render another moratorium unnecessary.

An Israeli official said the state is demanding that Americans veto any moves by Palestinians to bypass peace talks by dealing directly with the UN, and that it commits not to request another settlement freeze after the three-month period.

America also pledged to increase the volume of aid to Israel and grant Tel Aviv 20 advanced stealth warplanes as part of its incentives package.

Officials suggested that Netanyahu intends to stipulate that the U.S. would agree to waive the Palestinian refugees’ right of return.

Israeli officials said if Shas ministers abstain from voting, Israel would be expected to approve the construction freeze with a majority of seven to six opposing votes.

Israel rejects U.S. settlement freeze proposal without written guarantees.

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