By DPA,
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday “sensitive contacts” with the US were underway on the issue of Israeli construction in the occupied West Bank, in a bid to find a compromise that will prevent the collapse of peace talks.
“One month ago, the Palestinians entered into direct talks with us… Now there is interest in continuing the peace negotiations. This is a vital interest for the state of Israel,” he told his cabinet.
“We are in the midst of sensitive diplomatic contacts with the US administration in order to find a solution that will allow the continuation of the talks,” he added.
He went on to say that now was “not the time for issuing statements”, because he did not want to cause a political stir.
“We will quietly consider the situation and the complex reality away from the spotlights. I propose that everyone be patient, act responsibly, calmly and above all quietly,” he told his ministers.
The London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Monday that Netanyahu had agreed in principle to extend a construction moratorium for West Bank settlements by another 60 days, in exchange for a “bundle of benefits” from Washington.
Those reportedly include a US pledge for full political support in the UN Security Council, security assurances and Washington’s approval to station Israeli forces in the Jordan Valley — or eastern West Bank — for a specific period as part of a future peace deal, the paper quoted “Israeli sources” as saying.
In an apparent reference to al-Sharq, Netanyahu said he does not “have the possibility of denying the baseless media report”.
US mediators are feverishly trying to bridge the gap between Israel and the Palestinians on the issue of settlement construction before the Arab League meets to consider lending its continued support to the peace talks. Its Cairo meeting was first scheduled for Monday, but has already been postponed twice to later in the week.
Israel’s partial, 10-month freeze on construction in West Bank settlements expired Sep 26.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had threatened to walk out of the direct Middle East peace negotiations if Israel did not extend the moratorium, but Netanyahu has publicly stated he can and will not do so because of internal opposition in his right-leaning cabinet.