Israel to Agree to temporary settlement freeze

Monday, 27 July 2009 12:57 Al Manar
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Israel, July 26 (Al Manar) Israel will agree to temporarily freeze construction in settlements in the framework of new understandings that Tel Aviv will reach with Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told European foreign ministers last week., July 26 (Al Manar) Israel will agree to temporarily freeze construction in settlements in the framework of new understandings that Tel Aviv will reach with Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told European foreign ministers last week.
Commenting on Clinton's statements, Israeli and American sources confirmed that the parties were close to reaching an agreement. But they said the deal was not expected to be mentioned publicly in the visit by U.S. President Barack Obama's envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, the Israeli daily Haaretz said.
Mitchell is due to arrive in occupied territories on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to meet with Mitchell on Tuesday, reportedly said over the weekend that he thinks an agreement would require another round of talks with Mitchell.
"The magic formula has not yet been struck," Haaretz quoted a source in Netanyahu’s Bureau as saying. "The gaps are not big and there are creative proposals on both sides, but the gaps have not yet been bridged."
According to the Israeli daily, Clinton reportedly told the Europeans that if the understanding is reached, it would be the first time an Israeli government agrees to halt construction in settlements. She also said, according to sources familiar with the situation, that she expected the European Union to show support and appreciation for the move by Israel.
Last Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet decided that more than a third of the budget of the World Zionist Organization's Settlement Division for 2009 will go to assist agriculture in settlements over the Green Line.

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