Netanyahu to allow new Israeli settler homes: aide

[azurnoir]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will approve building new settler homes before considering a freeze that could lead to a resumption of peace talks with Palestinians, an aide said on Friday. U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has been pressuring Israel to halt settlement construction as it hopes to announce a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks this month but the building of settlements has been an obstacle.

<snip>

The Netanyahu aide, who declined to be identified by name, said that after the several hundred housing units are authorized, the Israeli leader would be prepared to consider a moratorium on building, lasting a few months.

Israel is building some 2,500 housing units at West Bank settlements that are in various stages of their construction.

<snip>

Obama's special Middle East envoy, George Mitchell this week met Netanyahu aides in New York to work to achieve an agreement to resume talks in time for an announcement at the U.N. General Assembly toward the end of September.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5831E120090904

[LeftishBrit]

1. Not too surprising, but ugh. Deep sigh.