JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister has offered to extend a moratorium on Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank, but only if the Palestinians meet his demand to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Benjamin Netanyahu has been under heavy international pressure to renew a just-expired slowdown on settlement construction. The Palestinians have said they will walk away from negotiations if the settlement curbs aren’t extended.
Speaking to parliament, Netanyahu said Monday he’s ready to renew the restrictions. But he says the Palestinians must recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland — a demand they reject out of hand.
The conditional offer appears unlikely to resolve the impasse over settlements, which has stalled peace talks just a month after they were launched.
