Israel: Netanyahu and Barak Steady the Line on Settlements

Amidst growing protests by West Bank settlers over the 10-month "freeze" on expansion by the Netanyahu Government, both Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have met settlers. Both Barak and Netanyahu tried to calm the atmosphere and urged settler leaders to cooperate with officials. The Prime Minister said:

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We took this difficult decision in order to move Israel's widest interests forward. We need to pass through this period together in a spirit of cooperation.

Instead of creating an atmosphere of crisis, we should focus on getting out of this period and overcoming the problems together. We are only a few days into the process, and I ask that you show patience.

We are not your enemy, we are your brethren.

There was a subtle difference between Barak and Netanyahu over the status of the settlements.Netanyahu said: the status would be determined through negotiations after the freeze expired:

Nine months and three weeks remain to the end of this period. At the end of this period we will continue to build. I want to make clear, the future of the settlements will be decided only in a peace agreement.

Barak asserted that the settlements will always be part of Israel, irrespective of any discussions:

Settlement blocs will be an integral part of Israel in any future negotiations with the Palestinians. The Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea are regions that are dear to my heart.

The difference, however, may be inconsequential: both the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, beyond any immediate difficuties with the settlers, are pointing to an uncompromising position on the settlements in any final-status talks with Palestinians.

Israel: Tension between Settlers and Netanyahu over "Freeze" on West Bank Construction

Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 10-month construction freeze in West Bank settlements decision, Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered his ministry to urgently recruit and train construction supervisors on Sunday in order to enforce the construction freeze. There are currently 14 supervisors in the West Bank and 40 are to be ready within two weeks.

Barak added a comment on the significance of the "freeze":

This step was not carried out in the Olmert government or in the Sharon government, not in my government and not in Yitzhak Rabin's government either. The real significance is that for the first time, we are suspending all new construction for an extended period and therefore giving peace negotiations a chance.

The road is long and there are difficult obstacles ahead, but we must make every effort to overcome them. Israel's main interest is the advancement of security and the political process - first on the Palestinian track and at the right moment on the Syrian track.

Israeli settlers in the West Bank are furious over the declaration. Settler leaders announced on Monday that they would prevent Israeli inspectors from blocking the construction of new buildings. A pro-Israeli settler group, the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, on Monday appealed to the High Court of Justice to put a stop to the government's plans.

In the wake of growing criticisms and pressure, Netanyahu is expected to meet with the heads of West Bank regional authorities on Tuesday.