Israel reacts to West Bank murders
Source: Agencies |
March 14, 2011, Monday
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THE Israel has approved the construction of hundreds of settler homes, the prime minister's office said yesterday, in a stern message to the Palestinians after three children and their parents were killed in their sleep in a -West Bank settlement over the weekend.
Israeli officials suspect that Palestinian militants carried out the deadly knife attack, which could cool any Israeli plans to propose a new peace initiative.
Israel's move to build more settler homes antagonized the Palestinians and further complicated badly -troubled peace efforts.
The settlement construction, approved Saturday night by the Cabinet's ministerial team on settlements, would take place in major West Bank settlement blocs that Israel expects to hold on to in any final peace deal, the prime minister's office said. Prime Minister Benjanmin Netanyahu, who is under domestic pressure to respond harshly to the killings - is a member of that team.
A government official said between 300 and 500 apartments and homes were approved for construction.
Palestinian opposition to settlement construction on lands they want for a future state has brought negotiations to a virtual standstill over the past two years, with Palestinians refusing to negotiate directly with Israel as long as it persists.
"We condemn this act of accelerated settlement construction," senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said. "We urge the international community to intervene and implement the two-state solution. This is the only way out of this vicious circle of violence and counter-violence."
Settler leader Dani Dayan called the government's move "a very small step in the right direction."
Although ground has been broken on as many as 500 apartments and homes since an Israeli moratorium on new West Bank settlement construction expired in late September, the government is holding up approvals on hundreds of other homes, to the settlers' chagrin.
The attack on Friday night in Itamar, home to some of Israel's most radical settlers, was the deadliest against Israelis in years, and security forces were on alert yesterday for possible settler retaliation against Palestinians.
The general security level around the country was raised, with an emphasis on the West Bank and Jerusalem, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
On Saturday, Netanyahu called on Israelis "to act with restraint and not to take the law into their own hands."
The military said suspects had been taken into custody in -connection with the killings but would give no details.
The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a mostly defunct Palestinian militant group, took responsibility for the killings. But it was not clear if the group really was responsible -because it frequently takes credit for attacks it didn't commit in a bid to raise its profile.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killings and Palestinian security forces were also searching for the perpetrators, Palestinian officials said.
Israeli officials suspect that Palestinian militants carried out the deadly knife attack, which could cool any Israeli plans to propose a new peace initiative.
Israel's move to build more settler homes antagonized the Palestinians and further complicated badly -troubled peace efforts.
The settlement construction, approved Saturday night by the Cabinet's ministerial team on settlements, would take place in major West Bank settlement blocs that Israel expects to hold on to in any final peace deal, the prime minister's office said. Prime Minister Benjanmin Netanyahu, who is under domestic pressure to respond harshly to the killings - is a member of that team.
A government official said between 300 and 500 apartments and homes were approved for construction.
Palestinian opposition to settlement construction on lands they want for a future state has brought negotiations to a virtual standstill over the past two years, with Palestinians refusing to negotiate directly with Israel as long as it persists.
"We condemn this act of accelerated settlement construction," senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said. "We urge the international community to intervene and implement the two-state solution. This is the only way out of this vicious circle of violence and counter-violence."
Settler leader Dani Dayan called the government's move "a very small step in the right direction."
Although ground has been broken on as many as 500 apartments and homes since an Israeli moratorium on new West Bank settlement construction expired in late September, the government is holding up approvals on hundreds of other homes, to the settlers' chagrin.
The attack on Friday night in Itamar, home to some of Israel's most radical settlers, was the deadliest against Israelis in years, and security forces were on alert yesterday for possible settler retaliation against Palestinians.
The general security level around the country was raised, with an emphasis on the West Bank and Jerusalem, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
On Saturday, Netanyahu called on Israelis "to act with restraint and not to take the law into their own hands."
The military said suspects had been taken into custody in -connection with the killings but would give no details.
The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a mostly defunct Palestinian militant group, took responsibility for the killings. But it was not clear if the group really was responsible -because it frequently takes credit for attacks it didn't commit in a bid to raise its profile.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killings and Palestinian security forces were also searching for the perpetrators, Palestinian officials said.
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