Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the Ministry of Construction and Housing to freeze and review its plan to build thousands of homes over the Green Line. The Ministry published the plan without coordination with the Prime Minister's Office.
Sources in Washington believe that Netanyahu is concerned about the strength of the US response against the plan and reached the conclusion that a further enflaming of relations with the Obama administration would harm Israel's efforts to thwart the US signing an unsatisfactory agreement with Iran on its nuclear program.
An announcement from Netanyahu said that the Housing Ministry's plan is not beneficial for the settlement movement and at this stage causes more damage than good because it beings Israel into an unnecessary conflict with the international community just as Israel is trying to mobilize global public opinion for the struggle against the partial deal with Iran.
Last night the White House and US State Department condemned the plan to build the new homes over the Green Line. The statement said, "We are deeply concerned about new reports of more than 20,000 housing units that are in various stages of planning. We are currently seeking additional clarifications from the Israeli government. Our position regarding settlements is most clear. We do not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 13, 2013
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