JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister has ruled out a freeze on settlement construction — a stance that is expected to further stall the resumption of peace talks with Palestinians.
The Palestinians have said they will not negotiate unless Israel halts settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, land which they claim as part of a future independent state. Both areas were captured by Israel in the 1967 war.
In comments published in Tuesday’s Jerusalem Post, Israel’s prime minister said last year’s 10-month freeze on construction failed to yield results. Benjamin Netanyahu said he saw no need for another moratorium on settlement construction.
The Palestinians, also fed up with deadlocked negotiations, have asked the United Nations to recognize their independence.
