Robert Bandanza
March 21st, 2010, 05:57 AM
21/03/2010 Israeli construction policies in Jerusalem are the "same as in Tel Aviv," hardline Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, adding he will continue to build settlements in holy Al-Quds.
"The policy of construction in Jerusalem is the same as in Tel Aviv," Netanyahy told cabinet ministers ahead of their weekly meeting.
"We will continue to build in Jerusalem as we have done for 42 years," he said.
Netanyahu said he had informed the United States that the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians must address concerns from both sides but that "in order for agreements to be reached, there must be serious and direct talks."
Earlier this month the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas agreed to indirect talks with Israel after months of US shuttle diplomacy, but progress stalled two days later when Israel announced plans for 1,600 settler homes in occupied Jerusalem.
Netanyahu promised President Barak Obama’s administration that Israel will make ‘several goodwill gestures toward the Palestinians’ ahead of his trip to Washington Sunday night.
Israel has agreed to ease the blockade on the Gaza Strip and discuss all core issues during the proximity talks, with the condition of reaching final conclusions only in direct talks with the PA.
Netanyahu refused to revoke a decision to build 1,600 settler homes in Ramat Shlomo in occupied Jerusalem - the cause of a diplomatic row erupted during a visit to Israel by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden two weeks ago - or freeze construction beyond the Green Line in the city. He did, however, promise a better oversight system to prevent such embarrassing incidents in the future, like not announcing the will to build new settler home in the media.
Netanyahu also agreed to release hundreds of Fatah-affiliated prisoners as a gesture to Abbas.
The Israeli prime minister is scheduled to leave for Washington Sunday night with Defense Minister Ehud Barak to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington. Opposition leader MK Tzipi Livni and Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau will also attend the convention.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=130230&language=en
"The policy of construction in Jerusalem is the same as in Tel Aviv," Netanyahy told cabinet ministers ahead of their weekly meeting.
"We will continue to build in Jerusalem as we have done for 42 years," he said.
Netanyahu said he had informed the United States that the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians must address concerns from both sides but that "in order for agreements to be reached, there must be serious and direct talks."
Earlier this month the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas agreed to indirect talks with Israel after months of US shuttle diplomacy, but progress stalled two days later when Israel announced plans for 1,600 settler homes in occupied Jerusalem.
Netanyahu promised President Barak Obama’s administration that Israel will make ‘several goodwill gestures toward the Palestinians’ ahead of his trip to Washington Sunday night.
Israel has agreed to ease the blockade on the Gaza Strip and discuss all core issues during the proximity talks, with the condition of reaching final conclusions only in direct talks with the PA.
Netanyahu refused to revoke a decision to build 1,600 settler homes in Ramat Shlomo in occupied Jerusalem - the cause of a diplomatic row erupted during a visit to Israel by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden two weeks ago - or freeze construction beyond the Green Line in the city. He did, however, promise a better oversight system to prevent such embarrassing incidents in the future, like not announcing the will to build new settler home in the media.
Netanyahu also agreed to release hundreds of Fatah-affiliated prisoners as a gesture to Abbas.
The Israeli prime minister is scheduled to leave for Washington Sunday night with Defense Minister Ehud Barak to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington. Opposition leader MK Tzipi Livni and Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau will also attend the convention.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=130230&language=en