by
Yechiel Spira
The Yeshiva World
August 18, 2009
With a feeling of betrayal, leaders of communities throughout Yehuda and Shomron are using phrases like "the old Bibi is back" in reference to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's policy statement announcement of Tuesday that he is implementing a settlement construction freeze along with his defense minister, Ehud Barak.
According to reports, Minister of Housing (Shas) Ariel Atias is a part of the agreement with the other ministers, bringing a halt to construction in communities until 2010. Atias is quoted as saying that he received the green light from party leader, Minister Eli Yishai, calling it a waiting policy to send "US Mideast envoy George Mitchell a message that Israel is serious about peace".
Ariel Mayor Ron Nachman, a former Likud MK, called today's announcement outrageous, adding the current government's days are numbered.
The ministers explain the move, a temporary one, is intended to lower tensions between Israel and Washington with the White House applying unrelenting pressure to halt construction, not only in yishuvim throughout Yehuda and Shomron, but also in areas of Yerushalayim deemed as
"Israeli occupied" territories by the US State Department.
In response to the policy statement, Ichud HaLeumi opposition party leader MK Yaakov Katz stated Netanyahu is the worst prime minister for the people, calling on Shas ministers to push for immediately construction in Modi'in Illit and Betar Illit to prevent young married couples from having to live in basements and storefronts, or G-d forbid even worse, leaving the country. Katz, known more popularly as Ketzaleh, stated this policy is a continuation of the policies of the "Oslo criminals".
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon stated "I hope it is not so," adding such decisions must be made in the "required forum".