The US is looking to Israel to impose a 90-day settlement freeze in hopes of rekindling the stalled talks.Many in the international community do not distinguish between West Bank settlements and east Jerusalem Jewish neighborhoods. US policy has been more ambiguous, but it has still frowned on Jewish construction in east Jerusalem.The disagreement between Israel and the US with regard to Jewish construction in east Jerusalem is well known, officials said.Israeli officials said they expected the document detailing the incentives package for the 90-day freeze to state clearly that it would be an extension of the previous moratorium on new settlement construction, which Israel had imposed on the West Bank from November 26 to September 26.That moratorium did not include east Jerusalem, and as a result east Jerusalem would not be included in the 90-day extension of that freeze, the Israeli officials said.The nuance of this portion of the agreement is important, the officials said. Netanyahu is therefore waiting to see the language in the US document detailing the incentives package, before he brings it to the Security Cabinet for approval, the Israeli officials said.It is also expected that the US-penned document would clearly state the Israel was not expected to issue another freeze of settlement construction, the Israeli officials said.JPost.com Staff contributed to this report.
Israeli officials: E. J'lem hasn’t delayed freeze document
Officials reject reports that J'lem building may be frozen as part of deal; Erekat: claims PA holding up talks are false.
The US is looking to Israel to impose a 90-day settlement freeze in hopes of rekindling the stalled talks.Many in the international community do not distinguish between West Bank settlements and east Jerusalem Jewish neighborhoods. US policy has been more ambiguous, but it has still frowned on Jewish construction in east Jerusalem.The disagreement between Israel and the US with regard to Jewish construction in east Jerusalem is well known, officials said.Israeli officials said they expected the document detailing the incentives package for the 90-day freeze to state clearly that it would be an extension of the previous moratorium on new settlement construction, which Israel had imposed on the West Bank from November 26 to September 26.That moratorium did not include east Jerusalem, and as a result east Jerusalem would not be included in the 90-day extension of that freeze, the Israeli officials said.The nuance of this portion of the agreement is important, the officials said. Netanyahu is therefore waiting to see the language in the US document detailing the incentives package, before he brings it to the Security Cabinet for approval, the Israeli officials said.It is also expected that the US-penned document would clearly state the Israel was not expected to issue another freeze of settlement construction, the Israeli officials said.JPost.com Staff contributed to this report.