Israel rules out freeze on new settler homes

Israel yesterday ruled out a freeze on the building of new settler homes in east Jerusalem, defying world powers who have warned the issue risks wrecking fragile peace talks with the Palestinians.

“There has never been a freeze on construction in Jerusalem and there never will be such a freeze – that has been the policy of Israeli governments for 40 years,” cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser told public radio.

Plans to build 1,300 settler homes in east Jerusalem gained media attention on Monday, during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s five-day trip to the US to discuss renewal of direct peace talks with the Palestinians.

“It is inconceivable that there would be limitations on construction in areas where some 300,000 residents live,” said Mr Hauser, referring to around 10 Israeli settlement neighbourhoods located in occupied east Jerusalem.

Peace talks have been on hold since late September when a 10-month Israeli moratorium on West Bank settlement construction expired, with the Palestinians refusing to talk until the ban is reimposed.

Although the building freeze did not apply to east Jerusalem districts like Har Homa, Mr Netanyahu had quietly held off approving projects there to avoid the political fallout.

“Construction will continue in Jerusalem just as it continues in Tel Aviv,” said Mr Hauser, who is also one of Mr Netanyahu’s spokesmen.

“The fact that we are building in Jerusalem has never stood in the way when there has been a real, sincere desire to make peace and reach agreements with Jordan, Egypt or the Palestinians,” he added.

Interior Minister Eli Yishai, said that the argument was academic, as there was little chance that Har Homa and similar east Jerusalem residential areas would ever be ceded to Palestinian rule.

“Is someone going to hand over Har Homa, Gilo; is someone going to give back Neveh Yaakov and the rest,” he said in an interview with public radio. “Even in those places that are going to be returned in some future peace process or other, they can be returned already built-up,” he said.

Meanwhile, a poll published yesterday showed that six out of 10 Palestinians – 62 per cent – backed the Palestinian Authority position that there should be no resumption of negotiations without a fresh moratorium on settlement building.