Israeli settlers reject Obama call to halt building…
JERUSALEM, (Reuters) – Jewish settler leaders on Tuesday shrugged off U.S. President Barack Obama’s call for Israel to halt settlement building in the occupied West Bank, saying Palestinians needed to “halt terror first”.
Dani Dayan, chairman of the West Bank settlers’ umbrella organisation Yesha Council, said he felt assured that domestic political support would allow settlers to continue to live in the occupied West Bank.
“The Israeli electorate set a clear line for this government … we have strong support in the new Knesset (parliament) and the things we hear among politicians certainly encourage us that if Netanyahu (halts settlement building) the Knesset will stand at our side,” Dayan told Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Obama for talks at the White House on Monday and the U.S. president afterwards reminded Israel of its commitment under a 2003 U.S.-backed peace “road map” to stop settlement building in the occupied West Bank.
Read full article »»
