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Abbas' criticism of Israeli construction "superficial" - Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel Materials 18 October 2010 22:36 (UTC +04:00)
Israel's construction in Jewish neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem and in its major settlements affects only a small percentage of the West Bank and should not affect the Middle East peace process, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Monday.
Abbas' criticism of Israeli construction "superficial" - Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel's construction in Jewish neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem and in its major settlements affects only a small percentage of the West Bank and should not affect the Middle East peace process, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Monday.

Calling Mahmoud Abbas' criticism of the construction "superficial," he urged the Palestinian president to continue direct negotiations despite it, DPA reported.

"I prefer to have a face-to-face conversation with him," Israeli media quoted Netanyahu as telling members of his Likud party in Tel Aviv.

He was referring to an interview aired on Israel's Channel One television news Sunday, in which Abbas said that he had transferred four messages to Netanyahu, saying he was willing to settle for a "quiet" unofficial settlement freeze.

Israel's biggest-selling daily, Yediot Ahronot, reported Monday that Netanyahu is in effect imposing a partial building freeze in East Jerusalem by not immediately signing off on some 1,300 new housing units, which have received all the other permits needed.

The tenders issued last week for some 238 apartments in the East Jerusalem Jewish settlements of Ramot and Pisgat Zeev were an exception meant to act as a "trial balloon," Yediot said.

Netanyahu has also received a list of sensitive units planned elsewhere in the West Bank, which he has not yet signed, it said.

The premier on Monday additionally reiterated that a central issue for Israel is security, noting that anti-aircraft missiles are threatening Israeli planes flying over and near Gaza.

"Imagine that they had missiles which could hit planes at Ben Gurion (International Airport near Tel Aviv). The solutions have to be immediate and long lasting and provide our country with security," Netanyahu said.

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