Netanyahu’s Construction Freeze for Jewish Settlements in the West Bank
Israel Debates is released as online publication of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Israel. Each edition presents opinions of two authors who express controversial views about major events of Israeli interior or foreign politics. The present publication of Israel Debates presents the Israeli domestic discussion on the construction freeze for the Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Dr. Reuven Pedatzur, lecturer at the Netanya Academic College, is critical of the Netanyahu government’s construction-halt decision. He sees the decision merely as Netanyahu’s tactical maneuver, to satisfy and silence the US government, and not a real step towards progress in negotiations with the Palestinians.
Prof. Efraim Inbar of the Bar-Ilan University views this step by the Netanyahu government in a positive light. He sees this as an unprecedented decision reflecting the Netanyahu government’s desire to improve relations with the United States, as well as to show clearly its reasonable and flexible policy towards the Palestinians, so that Netanyahu cannot be accused of missing the opportunity for a peace treaty.
December 2009.
