06/12/2009 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday that the Israeli cabinet's decision to freeze settlement construction in the West Bank for ten months proves that ‘Israel wants peace.’

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that, in contrast, the Palestinian Authority's rejection of his offer shows that they are an obstacle to a peace deal.

"The decision to freeze settlement serves wide interests of the State of Israel, and it is clear who wants peace and who rejects peace," Netanyahu claimed. "The state of Israel wants peace in the clearest possible fashion,” he added.

During the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said of the settlers that, "These are our brothers; they're a part of us, and we're a part of them."

"The decision represents difficulties that we have discussed with the citizens themselves; there are difficulties that are part of the decision, but there are also difficulties that are redundant,” he added.

The Israeli premier noted that he had set up a task force last week to draw up measures to ease life for settlers during the moratorium.

Meanwhile, defense officials believe settlers were behind the torching of a Palestinian home and two vehicles in the West Bank early Sunday, Army Radio reported, in an apparent attempt to avenge the construction freeze.

According to the report, Israeli security forces subsequently searched the area near the home, close to Nablus.

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