Reports: Israel To Defy US With New Settlements [View all]

[Purveyor]

Source: The Hill

Israel plans to announce construction plans for more Jewish settlements next week, when it releases two dozen Palestinian prisoners, according to multiple reports.

"Israel will declare new building in the settlements next week," an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Wednesday.

The announcement will likely draw sharp criticism from the United States, which recently warned Israel not to engage in such projects in the near future. Palestinian negotiators have said it could damage already weak negotiations.

One of Israel’s major news outlets, Channel 2 TV, also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to make an announcement for “massive construction” next week.
The official who spoke to Reuters did not indicate how many units would be included in the plan, or where.


Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/middle-east-north-africa/194003-reports-israel-to-announce-new-settlements

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Gal-On: Netanyahu's Giving Obama The Finger

Meretz leader expresses disappointment in Netanyahu's announcement to expand settlement construction amid upcoming prisoner release.

By GIL HOFFMAN
12/26/2013 13:37

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to announce construction tenders in settlements ahead of the third round of Palestinian prisoner releases is an attempt to create facts on the ground and prevent the American administration from advancing a diplomatic agreement, Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On said Thursday.

"Netanyahu is giving the American administration the finger," Gal-On said. "There does not need to be a connection between building in the territories and releasing prisoners. As long as there is no agreement with the Palestinians on the future of the settlements, expanding settlements is adding insult to injury."

Likud MK Moshe Feiglin agreed that construction and prisoner releases should not be connected.

"Construction in Judea and Samaria in exchange for terrorists perverts the value of settlement," Feiglin wrote on Twitter.

http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Gal-On-Bibis-giving-Obama-the-finger-336230