Jerusalem council delays discussion on construction plan

Jerusalem council delays discussion on construction plan

2010-11-16 00:27:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- Two local council committees on Monday announced the delay of the discussions on a construction plan in the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal for new settlement freeze reported, local media reported.

PM Netanyahu is seeking that the 15-member security cabinet approves a new settlement construction freeze that was proposed by the United States as the latest attempt to resume direct peace talks with Palestine.

The two committees previously presented a contentious plan for 1,300 new housing units in Gilo neighborhood, which is located beyond the 1967 Green Line border. U.S. President Barack Obama criticized the plan and said that it was "not helpful" for the peace negotiations.

The Prime Minister's office has kept a close watch on the planning committee in fear of sparking a fresh crisis with the U.S. over building in East Jerusalem.

On Sunday, Netanyahu informed the 15-member security cabinet about the U.S. proposal in exchange for three months of construction freeze in the West Bank settlements but not eastern Jerusalem.

The offer includes the delivery of 20 F-35 joint strike fighter jets, worth about $3 billion, as the Obama administration intended to propose an offer that can not be refused by the Israeli government. The fighter jets will be an addition to the 20-jet deal signed last month.

The U.S. requested in return a 90-day freeze that would cover all new construction in the West Bank since September 26 and including the settlements that were frozen during the first moratorium. The freeze will extend the details of the first one and prohibit local councils and municipalities from issuing construction permits.

If the proposal is approved, Israel will immediately begin substantive discussions with the Palestinian Authority on the border between Israel and a future Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

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