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Israel Snubs Washington, Plans New West Bank Homes

Netanyahu signing off on new settlements before negotiated freeze

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 4, 2009 5:25 AM CDT

(Newser) – Benjamin Netanyahu will approve the construction of several hundred housing units in the West Bank, snubbing the Obama adminisration's demands for a halt to new settlements. The Israeli prime minister informed the White House of his plans weeks ago, Haaretz reports. The US and Israel are still negotiating the terms of a settlement moratorium, but Netanyahu wants projects already underway excluded from any freeze.

"The Americans do not agree and are not happy about it, but we put it on the table a long time ago," an official close to Netanyahu said. A Palestinian negotiator was furious: "The only thing that will be suspended by this announcement is the peace process."

Construction vehicles are seen working on a new housing development in the Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.
Construction vehicles are seen working on a new housing development in the Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/ Tara Todras-Whitehill)
Palestinians work on the construction of a new housing development in the Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.
Palestinians work on the construction of a new housing development in the Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/ Tara Todras-Whitehill)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen at a weekly cabinet meeting in his office, in Jerusalem, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen at a weekly cabinet meeting in his office, in Jerusalem, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.   (AP Photo/Uriel Sinai, Pool)
A Palestinian man works on construction of a new housing development in the Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.
A Palestinian man works on construction of a new housing development in the Jewish neighborhood of Har Homa in east Jerusalem, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/ Tara Todras-Whitehill)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
OWLWOMANXXXX
Sep 4, 2009 12:32 PM CDT
STOP THE FUNDING TO ISRAEL
DontLikeYou___
Sep 4, 2009 12:16 PM CDT
Israel should ignore Obama. Obama is anti-Israel. If Israel follows Obama's wishes, the country will soon cease to exist.
Stuart
Sep 4, 2009 12:03 PM CDT
New is new. Underway is underway. No new means no new, not stopping those already underway.

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